Don’t meddle in prisoner swap, Taliban warns West
Ben Farmer, Sami Yousafzai
David Chazan
THE Taliban has rejected Western objections to a prisoner swap of militant fighters who killed international troops, saying Afghanistan’s international backers should not interfere.
Plans to free convicted Taliban fighters who killed French and Australian nationals as part of a trust-building swap to usher in peace talks have caused anger in Paris and Canberra.
The objections are reported to have slowed the release of the prisoners on both sides, delaying the start of official talks between the insurgent movement and the Afghan government.
Sher Mohammed Abas Stanekzai, the Taliban’s lead negotiator, told The Daily Telegraph France and Australia “have no right to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal issues”. “These soldiers are our lions,” he added. “These might have killed a few soldiers but the French and Australians killed hundreds of our Afghans.”
February’s troop withdrawal deal with the US outlined the turning loose of 5,000 Taliban fighters in exchange for 1,000 government prisoners.
The swap recently stalled over the last 320 militants, including some sentenced for suicide bombings and atrocities against Afghan handful accused of troops and civilians.
The Taliban said talks with Kabul to find a political settlement would not go ahead until the release was complete.
Those set for release reportedly include the killers of Bettina Goislard, a French UN worker, as well as militants involved in killing French soldiers. Paris said it “strongly opposes the release of individuals sentenced for crimes against French nationals”.
Another prisoner due for release is a
‘These might have killed a few soldiers but the French and Australians killed hundreds of our Afghans’
rogue Afghan soldier called Hekmatullah who shot dead three Australian soldiers in 2012. Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, has said Hekmatullah should never be released.
Three Afghans linked to attacks on US troops are also reported to be up for release, though Washington, eager to push the talks process, has not publicly objected. The UK Foreign Office has refused to say if any are accused of killing British nationals.