KABUL (SW) – The National Security Council has announced that about 900 Taliban prisoners will be released from government prisons on Tuesday, May 26.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will release nearly nine hundred Taliban prisoners today for the success of peace efforts, the continuation of the ceasefire and the speedy commencement of face-to-face talks”, Javed Faisal, spokesman for the NSC, said in a tweet.
The process of releasing Taliban prisoners began last month by the government, and so far 1,100 prisoners have been released, but the 900 prisoners released on Tuesday is the largest group of Taliban prisoners to be released in a single day.
According to the US-Taliban peace agreement, 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released from government prisons and the Taliban should release 1,000 prisoners from the security forces. The Taliban have released 250 prisoners so far, but the government has confirmed the identities of 170 prisoners only.
Following the release of prisoners on both sides, peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are set to begin.
Two days ago, President Ashraf Ghani ordered the release of 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture for ceasefire announced by the insurgents.
The Taliban welcomed the government's decision, but said 5,000 prisoners should be released.
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