NSC confirms release of 900 Taliban prisoners

KABUL prisoners, the National Security Council (NSC) says.

Javed Faisal, spokesman for NSC, told Pajhwok Afghan News 1,000 Taliban prisoners were released following a decree issued by President Ashraf Ghani during Eid-ul-Fitr and a three-day ceasefire.

He said the inmates had been freed from prisoners in 18 provinces -- mostly from Pul-i-Charkhi and Bagram jails. Approximately, 600 inmates walked from Bagram jail.

Under the presidential decree, about 2,000 prisoners would be released -- 9,000 in the first phase, 100 in another and 900 on Tuesday.

Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor, said they had released five prisoners in compliance with President Ghani’s decree.

The governor’s house in Kandahar also confirmed in a statement the release of five Taliban prisoners.

Khadim, an NSC official, said the Taliban prisoners would be released based on the decree.

sa/mud