Afghanistan will free 100 Taliban prisoners 'on humanitarian grounds—including health, age and vulnerability to COVID19,' but new ISIS-claimed violence threatens to upend a delicate peace process.
The Afghan government and the Taliban movement have agreed to a prisoner release deal as part of a cautious peace process already challenged by the new coronavirus pandemic and continued attacks staged by the Islamic State militant group .
Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen announced Wednesday that a four-hour video conference has taken place involving representatives of Afghanistan's Kabul-based government, the Taliban insurgency, the United States, Qatar and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Shaheen tweeted that"detailed discussions were held regarding the prisoner release process" and that a date had been fixed to begin freeing detained prisoners, a move previously delayed by recently re-elected President Ashraf Ghani, whose administration did not participate in recent U.S.-Taliban talks. "It was decided at the meeting that the process of releasing prisoners will begin on March 31 and that the Islamic Emirate would send a technical delegation to Bagram Prison in order to help identify, verify and release prisoners in accordance to the provided list," Shaheen said, using the official name of the Taliban. The Taliban was represented by a technical team, while the Afghan government was represented by its Peace Initial Contact Group. The meeting was confirmed by Afghanistan's National Security Council, whose press agency tweeted Wednesday:"Subject to further discussions, and pursuant to Pres. Ghani's decree, 100 prisoners will be freed on humanitarian grounds – including health, age and vulnerability to #COVID19 – by March 31 after guarantees by Taliban and the prisoners that they will not re-enter the fight." "To carry out these further discussions, a Taliban team will meet with the government face-to-face in Afghanistan in the coming days," the official outlet said. Afghan security personnel stand guard near the site of an attack on a Sikh temple in Kabul on March 25. Threatening to rock already fragile government-Taliban talks, ISIS defied please to end the country's long-running war, continuing to stage deadly and often sectarian attacks.In-person meetings among officials have become rarer not only in Afghanistan but across the world as the number of confirmed COVID-19 coronavirus cases exceeded 440,000 on Wednesday, including around 20,000 deaths and more than 111,000 recoveries. Reported infections in Afghanistan have reached 84, two of whom have died and two of whom have recovered. Freeing prisoners of war was a major point of the historic agreement reached late last month by U.S. and Taliban negotiators, but the Afghan government was not included in the discussions and has called on its rival demonstrate further evidence of its commitment to renounce any plans for a violent takeover before the full release of up to 5,000 Taliban in captivity. Earlier this month, Ghani decreed the initial release of 1,500 Taliban prisoners to be released, followed by an additional 500 each week if talks held.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Prince William, Kate Middleton, the Queen and All of U.K. Now on Official LockdownPrime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions amid rising concerns of the coronavirus
Read more »
Coronavirus government response updates: Trump wants country 'opened up' by EasterPresident Donald Trump is considering loosening coronavirus social distancing guidelines amid the growing economic fallout.
Read more »
Panic At The Gun Shop: Coronavirus Fears Cause A Run On Ammo And FirearmsGun store owners say they're seeing more customers than ever amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Read more »
Bindi Irwin marries Chandler Powell in 'small ceremony' at the Australia Zoo without guestsBindi Irwin marries Chandler Powell in 'small ceremony' at the Australia Zoo without guests.
Read more »
NYU Agrees to Allow Early Graduation for Med School Students Amid Coronavirus OutbreakNew York City is one of the epicenters of the COVID-19 pandemic
Read more »
A bird's-eye view of the coronavirus pandemicSanta Monica Pier, one of Southern California's most popular attractions, sits completely empty amid COVID-19 shutdown.
Read more »