US strongly responds over Afghanistan government decision of releasing top Commanders of Haqqani network
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KABUL - US strongly responds over Afghanistan government decision of releasing top Commanders of Haqqani network.
US government welcomes and “strongly supports” President Ashraf Ghani’s “courageous decision” to release three Taliban prisoners, the US Ambassador to Kabul, John Bass, told TOLOnews on Tuesday.
President Ghani at a news conference on Tuesday confirmed that Anas Haqqani, Haji Mali Khan and Hafiz Rashid, three Haqqani Network commanders, have been “conditionally released” in exchange for the release of two Haqqani-held professors who were abducted while working for the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF).
“We believe this important step reflects the strength of the Islamic republic and of the Afghan Security Forces and their ongoing efforts to protect and defend the Afghan people,’ he said.
About two weeks ago, the National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib confirmed that recent meetings between President Ghani and Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation had focused on the release of the two AUAF professors.
“This is the latest in a series of courageous steps that President Ghani and the Afghan government have taken to respond to the Afghan people’s overwhelming desire for peace,” Bass said.
