Afghan leaders’ council backs release of last Taliban prisoners

Thousands of prominent Afghans on Sunday approved the release of about 400 Taliban prisoners, clearing the way for peace talks.

Members at the loya jirga held in Kabul. Picture: AFP

Thousands of prominent Afghans on Sunday approved the release of about 400 Taliban prisoners, including many involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners.

The resolution recommending the release of the prisoners was passed at the end of a three-day “loya jirga” — a traditional meeting of tribal elders and other stakeholders held to decide on controversial issues.

“In order to remove the hurdles for the start of peace talks, stopping bloodshed, and for the good of the public, the jirga approves the release of 400 prisoners as demanded by the Taliban,” jirga member Atefa Tayeb announced.

The prisoners’ fate is a crucial hurdle in launching peace talks between the two sides in Afghanistan, which have committed to completing a prisoner exchange before the talks can begin.

The Afghan government has released almost 5000 Taliban inmates, but authorities have baulked at freeing the final prisoners demanded by the group with more than 150 of them on death row.

The list also includes a group of 44 insurgents of particular concern to the US and other countries for their role in high-profile attacks. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday pushed for the release of the detainees, while recognising the decision would be “unpopular”.

AFP