KABUL (SW) – The National Security Council office has announced the release of 80 out of 400 remaining Taliban prisoners in connection with the decision by the consultative ‘Loya Jirga for Peace’.
The ONSC said in a statement that these prisoners were freed from the Pul-e-Charkhi prison on Thursday.
Four days ago, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani signed a decree for the release of 400 Taliban prisoners after the ‘Loya Jirga for Peace’ called for it.
The government believes the release of 400 Taliban prisoners would leave no excuse for the Taliban to further delay the intra-Afghan talks. The ONSC added the released prisoners had "taken an oath" that they would not return to the battlefield and would live peacefully.
The Afghan government convened the ‘Loya Jirga’ last week to decide on the fate of 400 Taliban prisoners. The Jirga, which was attended by 3,400 people, including 720 women from across the country, approved the release of Taliban prisoners by the government.
ENDS
