Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) meets South Korean Presidential Envoy Baek Jong-Chun at the presidential palace in Kabul July 29, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

KABUL, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Sunday that his government will spare no efforts in securing the safe release of 22 South Korean hostages held by Taliban militants, an official statement said.

Karzai gave this assurance during a closed-door meeting with Baek Jong-chun, the special envoy of South Korean President, said the statement issued by the Afghan Presidential Palace.

Karzai said holding foreign hostages particularly is against Islam and Afghan culture and is "a shame," the statement said.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to intensify the efforts for securing the release of the hostages, it added.

The South Korean envoy Baek said his government respects any ways the Afghan side has adopted to get the hostages free, the statement said.

"We are aware of the difficulties the Afghan government and people are facing in the anti-terror war," he added.

Baek also appreciated the efforts by the Afghan government to solve the issue peacefully.

The statement did not hint whether it is possible for Afghan authorities to release some Taliban prisoners, which is the major demand by Taliban militants.

The special envoy was sent to Afghanistan after one South Korean hostage was killed on July 25 and he arrived in Kabul on July 27.

Taliban militants have stuck to the exchange of South Korean hostages for Taliban prisoners, but the Afghan government apparently is reluctant to release them.

A total of 23 South Koreans were kidnapped by Taliban militants on a road in the central Ghazni province on July 19.

Taliban militants have carried out kidnappings in the country over the past two years frequently, and some hostages were killed by them.