Last Taliban prisoners to be released

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN» President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan on Sunday said his government would release a last batch of Taliban prisoners, removing the final hurdle in the way of direct negotiations with the insurgents to end the country’s long war.

His announcement came after a consultative assembly where he had been advised by thousands of representatives from across the country. The release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners, which the United States agreed to in a February deal with the insurgents that also began the phased withdrawal of U.S. troops, faced opposition from the Afghan government, which is holding the prisoners.

After prolonged pressure from the Trump administration, Ghani released 4,600 prisoners from a list provided by the Taliban but called for consultations over 400, whom he said were accused or convicted of major crimes, including murder, that were beyond his authority to pardon.

At the start of the consultative assembly on Friday, more than 3,000 delegates crammed themselves under one tent in the capital, Kabul, despite fears of the coronavirus. Ghani said his government was at a crossroads. “The Taliban have said that if the 400 prisoners are released the direct talks between our negotiating team and the Taliban will start three days later,” he said in his pitch to the delegates, seeking their advice. “In the meantime, they have threatened that if they are not released, not only they will continue their war and violence but they will escalate it.”

On Sunday, after two days of deliberations spread across more than 50 committees, the assembly released a declaration calling for the release of the prisoners.

Ghani said he would sign the decree Sunday freeing the 400 prisoners.