An Afghan news agency says that U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad will meet with Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss the hostage standoff involving 21 South Koreans being held by the Taliban.

The Pajhwok Afghan News quoted Afghan officials as saying Monday that the meeting, which was not on the official schedule of the Afhgan president's U.S. trip, was requested by the U.S. envoy.

Khalilzad, who was born in Afghanistan, is expected to discuss the U.N.'s role in resolving the ongoing hostage situation. The envoy is former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Photo : ]