KABUL, Aug 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Afghan President, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, issued a decree to pardon and release about 400 controversial Taliban inmates, the Presidential Palace confirmed.
The palace tweeted that Ghani signed the decree late last night, for pardon of punishment of convicted Taliban prisoners, who are included in the 5,000 prisoners listed by the Taliban group.
The move came one day after participants of a 3,400-member Loya Jirga, or the Grand Assembly, voted for the release of 400 hardcore Taliban inmates.
A peace agreement signed between the U.S. and Taliban in Qatar, in Feb, required the Afghan government to free 5,000 Taliban inmates in exchange for Taliban’s release of 1,000 soldiers or government staff.
Since early Mar, the Afghan government released 5,100 Taliban inmates and Taliban freed 1,000 Afghan soldiers or government staff.
Under the agreement, U.S. and NATO-led coalition forces would leave Afghanistan by July next year, depending on whether the Taliban outfit meets the conditions envisaged in the agreement, including severing ties with foreign terrorist groups.
It was not immediately known when the 400 Taliban inmates will be freed.
According to unnamed officials, following the release of the 400 Taliban inmates, the long-delayed peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government will begin later this month.– NNN-AGENCIES
