First Taliban prisoners released

Afghanistan has released the first 80 of a final 400 Taliban prisoners, paving the way for negotiations between the warring sides in the country’s protracted conflict, the government said.

Javid Faisal, spokesman for the National Security Council’s office, made the announcement. Taliban officials said 86 prisoners were freed.

Prisoner releases on both sides are part of an agreement signed in February between the US and the terrorists. It calls for the release of 5,000 Taliban held by the government and 1,000 government and military personnel held by the insurgent group.