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US, Taliban Urge Afghan Leaders to Complete Prisoner Swap

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The United States is calling on leaders in Afghanistan to
   conclude an ongoing prisoner swap and launch a peace dialogue with the
   Taliban insurgency without delay.

   In a series of tweets Sunday, acting U.S. ambassador to Kabul Ross
   Wilson also stressed the need for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his
   political rival-turned-coalition partner, Abdullah Abdullah, to
   implement a power-sharing deal which the two signed in May.

   "We urge this country's leaders promptly to establish the new
   government, create the High Council for National Reconciliation,
   complete the exchange of prisoners, and move to the opening of
   intra-Afghan negotiations," said the American charge d'affairs.
   Under his power-sharing deal with Ghani, Abdullah has been appointed as
   the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, which is
   tasked to lead a team of Afghan negotiators in still-unscheduled talks
   with the Taliban.
   The proposed negotiations, however, hinge on the prisoner swap, in
   which Kabul is required to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for
   around 1,000 Afghan security force captives held by the insurgent
   group.
   Afghan officials have said that about 4,400 prisoners have been freed.
   But the government has refused to release the last batch of around 600
   inmates, describing them as "too dangerous" and insisting some foreign
   governments also want them to remain in jails.
   "The Afghan people have made clear their impatience. Start intra-Afghan
   negotiations now so that discussions on a permanent and comprehensive
   ceasefire can begin," said the ambassador, underscoring Washington's
   apparent frustration at Kabul's refusal to move forward with more
   prisoner releases.

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