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Kabul:
The Afghan authorities stated Thursday it had launched 400 Taliban prisoners below an alternate cope with the terrorists, apart from “a few” opposed by international nations, and anticipated peace negotiations to begin quickly.
The two warring sides have grown nearer this week to launching direct talks in Qatar, tying up the tip of a contentious and months-long prisoner alternate.
Kabul has already despatched a logistical crew to Doha the place the Taliban’s political workplace is predicated, with the negotiators anticipated to depart in a while Thursday.
“The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received our commandos held hostage by Taliban, after which the Gov’t released the remaining 400 convicts, except the few for which our partners have reservations,” National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal stated on Twitter.
“Diplomatic efforts are ongoing. We expect direct talks to start promptly.”
The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has acquired our commandos held hostage by Taliban, after which the Gov’t launched the remaining 400 convicts, besides the few for which our companions have reservations. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing. We count on direct talks to begin promptly.
– Javid Faisal (@Javidfaisal) September 3, 2020
Two Taliban officers confirmed the prisoners had been freed however that these opposed by France and Australia had been nonetheless in authorities custody.
Paris and Canberra made protests over the discharge of the terrorists due to their hyperlinks to the murders of French and Australian civilians and troops in Afghanistan.
“Australia and France have some considerations about them,” one Taliban official informed AFP on situation of anonymity.
“The Kabul administration will send them to Qatar where they will be in custody during the intra-Afghan talks.”
A Western diplomatic supply, nonetheless, stated the choice had not but been taken.
A date for talks to begin is but to be mounted.
Negotiations had been initially supposed to start in March as agreed in a deal between the Taliban and Washington in February, from which Kabul had been excluded.
But repeated squabbles over the prisoner alternate delayed the negotiations, together with the Taliban’s demand that 400 prisoners accused of great crimes be amongst these freed.
The prisoner alternate agreed between the US and the Taliban stipulated that Kabul ought to launch a complete of 5,000 terrorists in return for the insurgents releasing 1,000 Afghan troops.
The Taliban have stated they had been prepared to start negotiations “within a week” of the prisoner swap being accomplished and blamed Kabul for delaying the negotiations.
President Ashraf Ghani stated on Wednesday {that a} “critical stage of peace” had been reached and that the talks would assist cut back violence and finalise a everlasting ceasefire.
Afghan officers, in the meantime, referred to as for the beginning of direct talks with the Taliban.
Najia Anwari, spokeswoman for the State Ministry for Peace Affairs, stated on Thursday the federal government had “removed all the obstacles for the direct talks to start”.
“The negotiation team of the Islamic republic is now in full preparation to attend the talks.”
Fraidoon Khwazoon, spokesman to Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation, which is main the general peace course of, stated they would go away Thursday.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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