Afghan President pledges to 'expedite' release of Taliban prisoners amid Eid ceasefire

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, in his Eid al-Fitr mess on Sunday, anunced that he would “expedite” release of Taliban prisoners as taking 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 as Islam’s holy month of fasting comes to an end. 

release of prisoners of group held by Afghan government, which was also mentioned in US-Taliban peace deal as ‘confidence-building measure’, has been at a standstill 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 defense 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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Three-day Eid ceasefire

anuncement of a three-day Eid ceasefire at end of Ramzan came amid an escalation of armed conflicts between Taliban and Afghan government despite ‘momentous’ signing of US-Taliban peace deal was expected to pave way for a dialogue between Taliban and Afghan government. insurgent group’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid h me declaration on Twitter and called for a halt in ‘offensive operations solely’ for Eid festivities.

Even though troops on both sides were expected to cease war during ‘violence reduction’ period after peace agreement involving US, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has welcomed Taliban anuncement. He took to Twitter and said that as Commander-in-Chief of army he has instructed m to ‘defend only if attacked’. This comes after Taliban rejected Afghan government’s call for a ceasefire for Ramzan and called it ‘t rational’. 

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(With ANI inputs)

Im Source: AP