KABUL (SW) – The troubled prison swap between the Taliban and the Afghan government has completed, an official confirmed on Thursday
Javid Faisal, spokesperson, Office of the National Security Council, said in a statement that the government has received the captive commandos held hostage by Taliban. “ … after which the government released the remaining 400 (Taliban) convicts, except the few for which our partners have reservations. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing. We expect direct talks to start promptly”, he said.
A day earlier, Reuters reported a government-mandated negotiation team is likely to fly on Thursday to Doha, the initial venue for negotiations. The 400 prisoners were the last of 5,000 whose release was agreed in a February pact between the United States and the Taliban allowing for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
It is important to note France and Australia expressed opposition towards release of a number of captive Taliban militants over their involvement in killing of their citizens in Afghanistan.
ENDS
