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Afghan militants attack SKorean firm 3 times

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-11-12 17:13

SEOUL, South Korea: Militants have attacked a South Korean company operating in Afghanistan three times in recent months, an official said Thursday, as Seoul prepares to send troops to the troubled country to protect its citizens.

Related readings:  S. Korea weighing Afghan aid program

Militants carried out two separate attacks last month on two roads the company is building, a Foreign Ministry official said.

They burned an excavator, other heavy equipment and two jeeps while stealing documents, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

He also said four militants attacked a storage facility used by the company, exchanging fire with about 10 Afghan police last week before fleeing.

Two years after South Korea pulled out its troops following a fatal hostage-taking, Seoul is preparing to deploy forces to Afghanistan to protect civilian aid workers.

The South Korean government intends to expand a reconstruction team now helping to rebuild Afghanistan and will dispatch police and troops to protect them, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The decision to dispatch troops is subject to approval in parliament, where the ruling Grand National Party has enough seats to guarantee passage.

In 2007, South Korea withdrew some 200 army medics and engineers from Afghanistan. The pullout, though previously planned, followed a hostage standoff in which the Taliban killed two South Koreans after demanding that Seoul immediately withdraw its troops.