CNews24

AFGHANISTAN: President orders the release of 500 prisoners

1 July 31, 2020, 7:17 p.m.

As Muslims all over the world celebrate the feast of sacrifice, Eid al-Adha today, the President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani has ordered for the release of 500 Taliban prisoners.

This measure is aimed at speeding the long-delayed peace talks between Kabul and the Taliban following the announcement of a three-day cease fire in the country beginning Friday 31 July 2020 to celebrate Eid al-Adha.

With this new action, President Ghani says that Afghanistan has fulfilled their pledge of the peace agreement of 29 February 2020 which provided for the release of 5000 Taliban prisoners.

Some 4,600 prisoners were earlier released and 400 left to seal the deal.

However, non of the 400 prisoners in demand are on the list of the 500 newly released.

Kabul has been reluctant to release the remaining 400 Taliban prisoners, deeming them too dangerous.

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