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Afghan Government Frees 100 Taliban Prisoners

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The Afghan government freed 100 Taliban prisoners
   Wednesday, a day after the insurgent group accused Kabul of
   foot-dragging and recalled its team from week-long meetings ona
   much-awaited prisoner swap between the two foes.

   The spokesman for the Afghan National Security Council said the inmates
   were released under a presidential decree,maintaining thatthe move was
   part of government efforts aimed at promoting peace and containment of
   the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

   Javid Faisal noted the Afghan intelligence agency and relevant legal
   authorities "thoroughly vetted" the prisoners "based on their health
   condition, age and length of remaining sentence" before setting them
   free. He emphasized that all the prisoners took an oath not to rejoin
   the Taliban and return to the battlefield.

   TheTaliban swiftly rejected Kabul's announcement, saying it has nothing
   to do with the provisions outlined in their agreement with the United
   States.

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