KABUL – The Afghan government released 200 Taliban prisoners on Wednesdayas part of peace negotiations, local media reported. The move aims atstarting peace talks that have been delayed for months.
As per details, Afghan officials freed 200 Taliban inmates from a group of320 prisoners from the main jail in Kabul. Similarly, at least six membersbelonging to Afghan special forces in captivity of the Taliban were alsofreed.
Meanwhile, Afghan government officials said a negotiation team is expectedto fly to Qatar on September 3 (Thursday) to prepare for peace talks withthe Taliban.
In February, a deal was reached between the United States and the Talibanin which it was agreed that 5,000 Taliban prisoners will be released fromAfghan prisons before peace talks between the militant group and thegovernment. The government has so far released 4,600 prisoners.
The Loya Jirga, which was attended by more than 3,000 elders, communityleaders and politicians, stated that intra-Afghan peace talks should beginimmediately. It said that foreign prisoners, if any, should be handed overto their respective nations after receiving credible guarantees from theirgovernments.
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The jirga also decided that the freed prisoners should not return to thebattlefield while permanent ceasefire should be imposed.
On August 10, Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree torelease the final batch of prisoners demanded by the Taliban as a conditionto move to peace talks.
The Taliban had said that once the prisoners are released they would startpeace talks within a week after months of delays since the United Statessigned a troop withdrawal deal in February.
