Intra-Afghan talks to begin next week: Source

KABUL prisoners is likely to be resolved soon and the intra-Afghan talks may begin next week, a reliable source said on Sunday.

Before Eidul Adha, the government had released 4600 Taliban prisoners from various jails and refused to free the remaining 400 prisoners.

The government says the remaining Taliban inmates are dangerous and are involved in heinous crimes.

On Friday, President Ghani said as the president, he could not order the release of the remaining 400 Taliban prisoners as per the constitution.

“But it does not mean our answer is no,” explained the president during his address to the nation on the occasion of Eidul Adha.

The president said a consultative loya jira would be called into session to decide the fate of the remaining Taliban prisoners.

But a reliable source, who declined to be named, said now the government had decided to release the remaining Taliban prisoners at the request of the United States.

The source said these prisoners would be released within next two or three days and intra-Afghan negations were expected to start next week.

He also said the three-day government ceasefire would be extended and this decision was taken during a meeting among President Ghani, US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, former president Hamid Karzai and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.

The release of 5000 Taliban prisoners is part of the Feb 29, 2020 agreement between the rebel group and the US in Doha, Qatar.

Intra Afghan talks were expected after 10 days of the release of all Taliban prisoners  but the government delayed their release and the intra-Afghan talks could not be started after five months of the historic agreement.

On the eve of Eidul Adha (Thursday), the Taliban announced releasing all government prisoners.

The US has reportedly proposed a neutral venue for keeping the remaining Taliban prisoners --- a venue to be jointly monitored by the government and the Taliban.

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