To all those who have been under the belief that the Taliban were indeed fundamentalist Muslims, here is a thought for them.

The Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil told CNN in a written statement "if the United States is ready to ensure the Afghan people that their action is not against the Afghan people, the Taliban is ready to release the eight aid workers", in reference to the eight who have been held and are being charged for preaching Christianity to Afghans.

This is a capital offence in their understanding and practice of Islam. Yet there is this attempt to hold to ransom the US using these eight!

I would imagine if they were truly fundamental Muslims, the eight would be tried and if found guilty, be sentenced to death and it may then be possible for them to apply the Islamic pardon and forgiveness and have them released or carry on with the execution. I cannot imagine, though, that in Syariah law there is permission to use the eight for ransom!