Taliban and South Korean representatives entered a second round of direct negotiations on Saturday aimed at securing the release of 21 Korean nationals detained last month in the Ghazni province.

A purported Taliban spokesman said that direct talks between the two sides began on Friday evening and are scheduled to take place today in the same location. The militants chose Mullah Nasrullah and Mullah Mohammad Bashir to represent them in negotiations with Seoul officials.

Both Taliban representatives were ensured a safe journey to the venue that is reportedly in the Ghazni province and under the control of Afghan authorities.

The militants said their previous demands remain unchanged, the release of Taliban prisoners in exchange for the 21 hostages and the withdrawal of South Korean troops from Afghanistan.

“In the meeting we are speaking regarding our two already mentioned demands. One is the pullout of the Korean troops from Afghanistan and the second demand is to release our prisoners in exchange for the freedom of the hostages,” Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi said.

After a first meeting, the Taliban negotiators were optimistic about the discussions’ result, but couldn’t estimate the time length of their parley held on Saturday.

Kabul officials maintain their stance of not negotiating with militants and said a military operation will be launched if the crisis isn’t resolved in a peaceful manner.

Twenty-three South Korean Christian volunteers were kidnapped on July 19 in the eastern Ghazni province by Taliban fighters while traveling towards Kandahar. The group holding them issued several deadlines for the government, but as time passed and Kabul officials refused to negotiate, the militants executed two hostages and threatened to continue if their demands aren’t met.