Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, told Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, the women had been freed and were expected to arrive in Ghazni soon. The Taliban said it would free the two as a gesture of good will at the beginning of face-to-face negotiations with South Korean diplomats.

The Taliban’s original demands still must be met to secure the release of the rest of the hostages, he said.

Taliban militants kidnapped 23 South Korean Christian aid workers July 19. Two male hostages since have been killed and the kidnappers have threatened to kill more, if 21 Taliban fighters are not released from prison.

Taliban and South Korean negotiators began meeting face-to-face Friday in Ghazni Province, near where the hostages are believed to be held in small groups, BBC News reported Saturday.