( Sky News ) - A senior member of the Taliban claims South Korea has paid $20m to release 19 missionaries they were holding hostage.
And the insurgent group has now vowed to use the funds to buy arms and mount suicide attacks.
One of the released hostages"We got more than $20m from them (the Seoul government)," a commander said.
"With it we will purchase arms, get our communication network renewed and buy vehicles for carrying out more suicide attacks."
The commander, is on the 10-man leadership council of the Islamist Taliban movement, which is led by the Mullah Mohammad Omar.
The freed hostages left Afghanistan yesterday. Seoul has denied paying a ransom.
Critics say negotiating with the Taliban sets a dangerous precedent that could spur more kidnappings.