Afghanistan government releases 100 Taliban prisoners during 3-day Eid ceasefire

A day after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani pledged to speed-up process of releasing Taliban prisoners, Afghanistan freed at least 100 inmates from insurgent group to mark Eid al-Fitr celebrations on Monday, May 25.

Afghanistan’s National Security Council spokesperson Javid Faisal informed  international media that 100 Taliban prisoners have been released from Bagram prison and government plans on freeing at least 2,000 prisoners as a “goodwill gesture” after both sides agreed on a temporary ceasefire on occasion of Eid.

In his Eid al-Fitr mess on Sunday, Ghani h anunced that he would “expedite” release of Taliban prisoners to mark ar step forward towards a truce with insurgent group by “responsible government”. This comes after Taliban anunced a three-day ceasefire starting on May 24.  

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‘Winner’ of peace will be citizens

release of Taliban prisoners from Afghan jails, which was also part of US-Taliban peace deal as ‘confidence-building measure’, has been in rough waters over a disagreement. Taliban has demanded at least 5,000 prisoners to be freed at one go in exchange for 1,000 Afghan security officials detained by extremist group. 

However, Afghan government h refused to oblige until w because according to Ghani, “winner” of prevailing peace would be citizens of country who “suffer most”.

"As a responsible government, we want to move one more step forward: I am anuncing that release of Taliban prisoners will be expedited and we call on Taliban that y also expedite release of security and defence prisoners," Ghani was quoted by ANI.

" winner of peace will be Afghan people. War brings destruction and misery, especially for Afghan women who suffer most," he ded.

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Im source: AP