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\nKABUL, Afghanistan (AA) – The top US peace envoy for Afghanistan has resumed his shuttle diplomacy in the region with a meeting with the Taliban's deputy leader in Doha, Qatar.<\/p>\n
Zalmay Khalilzad has met the Taliban's deputy head Mullah Baradar Akhund in Doha in connection with the peace agreement, the insurgents' Qatar office spokesman, Suhail Shaheen said in a tweet.<\/p>\n
The US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation has left for Doha, New Delhi and Islamabad, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
In Doha, Ambassador Khalilzad will meet with Taliban representatives to press for full implementation of the U.S.-Taliban agreement.<\/p>\n
In New Delhi, he will meet with Indian officials to discuss the important role of India in a sustainable peace in Afghanistan and the region. And in Islamabad, he will meet with Pakistani officials and also discuss the Afghan peace process.<\/p>\n
“At each stop, he will urge support for an immediate reduction in violence, accelerated timeline for the start of intra-Afghan negotiations and cooperation among all sides in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan,” the State Department said.<\/p>\n
Based on decree by President Mohammed Ashraf Ghani, the Afghan government has set free at least 850 Taliban prisoners.<\/p>\n
The Taliban have so far released more than 100 government prisoners, including civilians.<\/p>\n
Two days ago, the National Security Council announced that the Afghan government was urging the Taliban to reduce violence and start direct talks after the release of 1,500 prisoners.<\/p>\n
According to the US-Taliban peace agreement, 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released from government prisons and the Taliban should release 1,000 captive security forces.<\/p>\n
Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are set to begin after the release of prisoners on both sides.<\/p>\n
ENDS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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