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Afghan Government to Free 900 More Taliban Prisoners

RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

   KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - The Afghan government plans to release 900 more
   Taliban prisoners on May 26, as a cease-fire by the militants enters
   its third and final day.

   The break in fighting, which came into effect on May 24 to mark the
   Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, was for the most part holding out across
   the country, officials said.

   The government earlier responded to the Taliban's cease-fire offer by
   announcing plans to release up to 2,000 militant prisoners.

   "There is a decision to release 900 today," National Security Council
   spokesman Javid Faisal said on May 26, adding that the precise number
   could vary subject to legal procedures.

   If completed, it would be the biggest group of Taliban prisoners freed
   so far.

   On May 25, authorities freed 100 prisoners.

   The 100 Taliban prisoners were released from Bagram, north of Kabul, on
   May 25 as "a gesture of goodwill to advance peace efforts, including an
   extended cease-fire and the immediate start of direct talks" with the
   militants, Faisal tweeted.

   Faisal posted photos of the freed militants inside a bus.

   In February, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement
   aimed at ending the longest military action in U.S. history. The deal
   lays out a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan
   in return for security commitments from the Taliban.

   It also stipulates that Kabul must free 5,000 Taliban prisoners, while
   the militants are to release 1,000 captives -- a move expected to lead
   to intra-Afghan negotiations.

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