MPs want Taliban prisoners’ release tied to truce

KABUL (Pajhwok): Wolesi Jirga members on Monday expressed their concern about the acting US ambassador’s remarks about the possible release of 7000 more Taliban detainees, saying their release should be linked to ceasefire and progress in peace talks.

Ross Wilson, the acting US ambassador to Afghanistan, says the Taliban are looking forward to the release of 7000 more prisoners in the next ten days.

In a virtual conference with the press, the ambassador stated that based on the US-Taliban peace agreement, these prisoners must be released until mid December this year and the agreement between the two sides is based on mutual interest and consensus.

The Presidential Palace today said the Afghan government has fulfilled its obligation to the agreement by releasing 5000 Taliban prisoners and now it was time for the Taliban to declare a comprehensive ceasefire.

Wolesi Jirga member Abdul ZaherSalangi from central Parwan province told today’s session of the lower house that there were internal and external entities that advocated the Taliban and asked the president and the Wolesi Jirga that no Taliban prisoner should be released until the rebels declared ceasefire.

Lawmaker Ali Akbar Jamshidi from central Daikundi province also said that releasing more Taliban inmates should be based upon the agreement over a comprehensive ceasefire.

Wolesi Jirga speaker Mir RahmanRahmani hailed the maiden meeting of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) and the beginning of their work.

He said decisions regarding the peace process should not be based on individual interests but they should be shared with the people of Afghanistan.

The speaker also said the US Embassy request for release of Taliban prisoners will strengthen the group and hoped such requests would not be considered until truce was declared between the two sides.

Haris/ma

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