News

Afghan government to release 100 Taliban prisoners

April 8, 2020 05:05 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

The Afghan government will release 100 Taliban prisoners on Wednesday, an official told AFP, a day after the insurgents said they were walking out of talks with Kabul.

The two foes have been negotiating in Kabul since last week to try to finalise a prisoner swap that was originally supposed to have happened by March 10 and pave the way for "intra-Afghan" peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban.

But the swap has been beset with problems, with Kabul claiming the Taliban want 15 "top commanders" to be released, while the insurgents have accused Afghan authorities of needlessly wasting time.

"One hundred Taliban prisoners will be released today," said Javid Faisal, spokesman for Afghanistan's Office of the National Security Council. "We are doing our part in the agreement. The peace process should move forward."

Faisal said the 15 commanders were not among those being released, and that additional prisoners would be freed "depending on what the Taliban do".

The insurgents did not immediately comment.

The United States signed a deal with the Taliban in late February that required the Afghan government -- which was not a signatory to the accord -- to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners, and for the insurgents to release 1,000 pro-government captives in return.

In the accord, Washington promised the withdrawal of US and foreign troops from Afghanistan by July next year, provided the Taliban start talks with Kabul and adhere to other guarantees.

On Tuesday, the Taliban's political spokesman Suhail Shaheen accused the administration of President Ashraf Ghani of "intentionally postponing the release and breaching the deal".

He said the Taliban would pull their negotiators out of "fruitless" discussions with the Afghan government over the prisoner swap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOavNaBX4NU


Most Read

  1. Mexican claims victory by paying $28 for $28,000 Cartier earrings Mexican claims victory by paying $28 for $28,000 Cartier earrings
  2. Aroob Jatoi breaks silence on viral deep fake video Aroob Jatoi breaks silence on viral deep fake video
  3. Ducky Bhai pledges million-rupee reward for unveiling source of deepfake video of his wife Ducky Bhai pledges million-rupee reward for unveiling source of deepfake video of his wife
  4. Two Railway Police personnel killed in Mardan Two Railway Police personnel killed in Mardan
  5. When Pakistani pilot shot down Israeli fighter plane When Pakistani pilot shot down Israeli fighter plane
  6. Katrina Kaif finally spills beans about Hollywood debut Katrina Kaif finally spills beans about Hollywood debut

Opinion

  1. Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties
    Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties

    By Nasim Zehra

  2. PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls
    PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls

    By News Desk

  3. Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity
    Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity

    By News Desk

  4. Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  
    Tax on solar energy: Govt's misplaced priorities favour powerful stakeholders over people welfare  

    By Manzoor Qadir

  5. Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir
    Legacy of Indian military subjugation in Kashmir

    By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai

  6. Islamabad becoming the hub of international diplomacy
    Islamabad becoming the hub of international diplomacy

    By Salim Bokhari