Taliban released five more South Korean hostages on Wednesday as part of a deal struck between insurgents and the South Korean government. Three were released earlier the day. 

The hostages were handed over to Red Cross officials at two different locations in Ghazni.  The first group of three women was released in a village named Qala-e-Kazi, agency reports said.

Their release comes a day after the Taliban announced that it would free all 19 hostages after South Korea's pledged to withdraw its military from Afghanistan and ban missionary groups from the country.

Further reports are awaited.