NSC confirms release of 98 Taliban prisoners

KABUL (Pajhwok): The government confirmed on Monday the release of 98 Taliban prisoners in an effort to promote the peace process and contain the coronavirus spread.

National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Javid Faisal wrote on his Twitter account the prisoners were set free from the Pul-i-Charkhi prison in Kabul on Sunday evening.

The officials said the government has so far released 748 Taliban prisoners from different jails across the country.

“Pursuant to the president’s decree, 98 Taliban prisoners were released yesterday based on their age, health and length of remaining sentence…” he said.

The US has been pressing the Afghan government and the Taliban to accelerate prisoner releases to pave the ground for the launch of intra-Afghan talks.

The Taliban have so far freed 107 government prisoners from their jails.

pk/mud