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Taliban Reject Afghan Government's Prisoner Release Plan

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The Taliban Wednesday rejected an Afghan government order
   that allows for the conditional release of thousands of insurgent
   prisoners, calling Kabul's move a violation of the accord the Taliban
   recently signed with the United States.

   "It is clearly stated in the text of the (U.S.-Taliban) agreement that
   all of our 5,000 prisoners would be freed unconditionally and before
   the commencement of intra-Afghan peace negotiations," Taliban spokesman
   Suhail Shaheen told VOA.

   The insurgent group is also bound to free from its custody 1,000
   detainees, mostly Afghan security forces, according to the deal.

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