*KABUL: *A mechanism for the release of Taliban prisoners has been reachedand a presidential decree would be issued in this regard on Tuesday, thecountry’s president said on Monday.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s remarks came after he took an oath aspresident for another five-year term.
The landmark peace deal, signed on Feb 29 in Doha between US and Talibanlays out a timetable for full troop withdrawal from Afghanistan within 14months. It also says that both sides would free each other’s prisoners andhold the intra-Afghan dialogue due to begin on March 10.
However, Afghan president said after the deal that his government had notmade any commitment to the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners.
In response, Taliban said the intra-Afghan dialogue would take place onlyafter the release of their prisoners.
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On Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while speakingto the media in Multan hinted that there was some development on the issueof release of prisoners.
Qureshi said some elements were trying to spoil the peace agreement,adding, they should not be allowed to succeed so that the goldenopportunity “is availed for sustainable peace in Afghanistan”.
He said after successful resolution of the issue, the intra-Afghan dialoguewould be the next step of the peace deal. – Anadolu Agency
