Taliban yet to free 25 Afghan commandos: Source

KABUL have not yet freed 25 Afghan commando forces from captivity as part of a prisoner exchange between the government and the rebels, a reliable source said Tuesday.

The commandos had been captured by the Taliban during a clash in Ajaristan district of southern Ghazni province almost two and a half years ago.

A reliable government source told Pajhwok Afghan News the 25 commandos had not been released in the prisoner exchange process between the Afghan government and the Taliban so far.

The source said efforts were underway to release such forces before the start of the intra-Afghan talks in Qatar.

But another reliable source said in the past the Taliban had rejected to release commando forces.

However, he said now as President Ghani had signed the decree to release the 400 Taliban prisoners, the Taliban might also free the commandos.

The source added families of the captive forces had also been asking the government to take measures for release of their family members.

As part of the Feb. 29 peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban, Kabul freed 5,000 Taliban inmates and, in return, the militant movement released 1,000 government soldiers.

On the first day of EidulAdah, President Ashraf Ghani suggested convening the Loya Jirga to decide the fate of the 400 prisoners on a Taliban list handed to his administration.

The Loya Jirga commenced on Friday and issued a resolution on Sunday, approving the release of the 400 Taliban prisoners who, the government says, are involved in high-profile attacks.

Pk/ma