Sunday, August 9, 2020

Afghan Government Will Release 400 'Hard-Core' Taliban Prisoners To Restart Peace Talks





Reuters: Afghanistan to release 400 'hard-core' Taliban prisoners in bid for peace

KABUL (Reuters) - The Afghan government agreed on Sunday to release 400 “hard-core” Taliban prisoners, paving the way for peace talks aimed at ending almost two decades of war.

The insurgent group welcomed the move and said it was ready to begin talks within 10 days of the release.

Under election-year pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump for a deal allowing him to bring home American troops, the country’s grand assembly, or Loya Jirga, on Sunday approved the release.

The Taliban militant had demanded the release of the 400, the last batch among 5,000 prisoners to be freed, as a condition to join peace talks.

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WNU Editor: From my experience "hard core" means no compromise. The Afghan government is taking a huge risk in releasing these people.

More News On The Afghan Government Agreeing To Release 400 'Hard-Core' Taliban Prisoners To Restart Peace Talks

Afghan assembly approves Taliban prisoner release -- BBC
400 'hard-core' Taliban prisoners to be released ahead of Afghan peace talks -- The Hill
Afghanistan to Release Last Taliban Prisoners, Removing Final Hurdle to Talks -- New York Times
Afghanistan to release 400 'hard-core' Taliban prisoners in bid to start peace talks -- RFE
Loya Jirga Approves Release of 400 Taliban Prisoners -- Tolo News

4 comments:


  1. Agreed. They've been untrustworthy in the past. What would cause them to change now but a position of negotiating strength as perceived by them? How could releasing a 400 strong group indicate you have the upper hand when most of these people will, I believe, revert back to attacking the government? There's no position of strength in much of Afghanistan demonstrated by the afghan government.

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