Twelve of 19 South Koreans held hostage by Taliban militants were freed Wednesday as part of a deal struck with that country's government.

The hostages were released to Red Cross officials at different locations in central Afghanistan near the city of Ghazni. There was no word on when the remaining captives would be freed to bring about an end to the nearly-six-week-old crisis.

The first three women were released in the village of Qala-e-Kazi, their heads covered in shawls. Hours later four women and one man were freed in a desert close to Shah Baz. The most recent prisoners were let go not long afterward. There was no indication the freed hostages were suffering from any health problems.

In exchange for the hostages' release South Korea reaffirmed its vow to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan before the end of a year. It's a plan that pre-dated the hostage crisis. The country also said it would keep South Korean Christian missionaries from going to Afghanistan.

The July 19 kidnapping was not without tragedy - militants executed two of the male hostages in late July.

Two other women were released earlier this month. The insurgents promised to free the remaining captives over the next few days.