*ISLAMABAD: *The US on Thursday reiterated its commitment to facilitating aprisoner exchange under a peace agreement signed with the Taliban in theQatari capital last week to end the long-running conflict in Afghanistan.
US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said on Twitter that his country iscommitted to facilitating the prisoner exchange, which was agreed to inboth the US-Taliban agreement and US-Afghanistan joint declaration.
“We will support each side to release significant numbers,” said Khalilzad.
His remarks came after a statement issued by Afghan President Ashraf Ghanithat his government had not made any commitment to the release of 5,000Taliban prisoners.
In response, Taliban political spokesperson Suhail Shaheen saidintra-Afghan dialogue would take place only after the release of prisoners.
“I met Mullah Berader and his team last night for a candid discussion aboutnext steps, followed by a constructive phone call with President@realDonaldTrump. We all agreed the purpose of the US-Taliban agreement isto pave the path to a comprehensive peace in #Afghanistan,” said Khalilzad.
“We must act on all fronts to clear the road of obstacles that slow ourprogress toward intra-Afghan negotiations. I once again call on all Afghansto rise to the occasion, put country first and not to lose this historicopportunity.”
On Wednesday, US forces in Afghanistan announced the resumption of militaryoperations in the war-torn country after an 11-day pause.
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Sonny Leggett, a spokesperson for the US forces in Afghanistan, said onTwitter that US jets conducted an airstrike Wednesday against Talibanfighters in Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand province.
Taliban fighters “were actively attacking an #ANDSF [Afghanistan forces]checkpoint. This was a defensive strike to disrupt the attack. This was our1st strike against the Taliban in 11 days,” Leggett said.
In response, however, the Taliban said according to the plan, they willimplement all parts of the agreement one after another to prevent the warfrom intensifying.
“The other side must also remove the barriers to the implementation of allparts of the Agreement. This is in order to pave the way for a countrywidepeace and for Afghans to enjoy their fundamental rights,” Shaheen said in aTwitter post.
The landmark deal between the US and the Taliban, signed on Feb 29 in Doha,Qatar, lays out a timetable for full troop withdrawal from Afghanistanwithin 14 months.
It is expected to lead to dialogue between the Taliban and the Kabulgovernment in seeking an end to the armed conflict that began in 2001. -Anadolu Agency
