Afghan government frees Taliban detainees and calls for a ceasefire

The Afghan government has released more than 100 detainees from the Taliban movement in implementation of the Doha agreement between the movement and Washington, and called in the same context for a ceasefire to facilitate the fight against Corona.

National Security Council spokesman Javed Faisal said that, according to a presidential decree, 102 Taliban detainees had been released, and this process will continue until 1,500 detainees are released.

He also urged the Taliban to expedite the release of Afghan forces detainees and civilians without delay, until the Afghan-Afghan negotiations begin.

In turn, the Afghan presidential spokesman, Siddiq Siddiqui, today called on the Taliban to cease fire in the country.

My friend called the movement - in a press statement - to a cease-fire to facilitate the arrival of medical personnel in all regions, as part of the fight against the Corona virus, which began to spread in Afghanistan.

He stated that the Taliban's lack of response would place them in a position of responsibility for the disaster that may occur, stressing that a ceasefire is a popular demand.

Beginning of negotiations
On the other hand, according to a statement issued by the Afghan National Security Council, 300 other Taliban prisoners were released during the past week, as a result of the agreement reached between the United States and the movement.

The statement added that the Taliban must also rush to release the hostages, so that there is no obstacle to the start of negotiations.

Yesterday, the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack on a military center in Helmand, southern Afghanistan, where at least 150 personnel from the army and intelligence were stationed.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Afghanistan quoted a government source as saying that 20 members of the security forces were killed in the attack carried out by the Taliban militants on the military center.

On February 29, the Qatari capital, Doha, witnessed an agreement between the United States and the Taliban, paving the way - according to a timetable - for the gradual withdrawal of Washington from Afghanistan and the exchange of prisoners.