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Afghanistan sanctions release of final 400 Taliban prisoners

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani holds up the advice of the Loya Jirga, who sanctioned the release of the final 400 Taliban prisoners - JAWAD JALALI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock /Shutterstock
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani holds up the advice of the Loya Jirga, who sanctioned the release of the final 400 Taliban prisoners - JAWAD JALALI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock /Shutterstock

A council of Afghan elders has ruled that the nation's remaining 400 Taliban prisoners will be freed, paving the way for long-awaited peace talks to begin on Sunday.

The Taliban had demanded the release of all of its prisoners before it sat down in Doha with Afghan leaders to negotiate an end to the 18-year conflict which has claimed over 150,000 lives.

After successful initial prisoner exchanges, the Afghan Government had refused to release the final group of Taliban inmates, arguing they had been jailed for serious crimes, including kidnappings. It delegated the decision to the Loya Jirga, a grand assembly of Afghan religious and tribal elders, who convene in times of national crisis.

On Sunday, after three days of talks, the council agreed to release the Taliban prisoners, as long as an international guarantee is provided that the inmates do not return to the battlefield.

“To remove obstacles for the start of peace negotiations, end bloodshed, and observe the interests and good of the people, the jirga approves the release of 400 Taliban prisoners,” the council declared, reiterating its demands for a long-term ceasefire.

A government source told Reuters Afghan President Ashraf Ghani would sign the decree to release the remaining prisoners later on Monday. “Everyone is waiting for Ghani to sign on the decree. The original plan is to travel to Doha on Wednesday and the talks will begin on Sunday,” said an Afghan Government source.

Over 3,000 delegates convened to be part of the Loya Jirga - HANDOUT/AFP
Over 3,000 delegates convened to be part of the Loya Jirga - HANDOUT/AFP

“We are ready to sit for talks within a week from when we see our prisoners released. We are ready,” said Suhail Shaheen, a Taliban spokesman. In February, the United States signed a peace agreement with the Taliban, which will see a full withdrawal of American troops within 14 months if the Taliban and Afghan Government reach a peace deal.

As part of the terms, the Taliban and Afghan Government promised to release thousands of their respective prisoners before politicians sat down at the negotiating table. The U.S. had urged the Loya Jirga to sanction the prisoners' release and threatened to withdraw aid to Afghanistan if talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban remained unfulfilled.

“We acknowledge that the release of these prisoners is unpopular. But this difficult action will lead to an important result,” said Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan welcomed the exchange: “In the next few days, we expect the completion of prisoner releases, then travel of the Islamic Republic team to Doha, & from there the immediate start of intra-Afghan negotiations,” he tweeted.

Violence between the Taliban, the Afghan Government, and international forces has surged since the U.S-led peace deal was signed. Over 1,200 civilians have died in fighting so far this year, with the Islamic State and Al Qaeda also targeting Afghan citizens.