Afghan President orders to release 2,000 Taliban prisoners

The Taliban declared a ceasefire to honour Eid ul-Fitr. Ghani welcomed the initiative and announced that the process of releasing Taliban prisoners would be expedited, urging the group to do the same. On February 29, the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal in the Qatari capital of Doha, stipulating a beginning of intra-Afghan negotiations as well as prisoners' exchange.

Kabul: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday (local time) ordered a release of up to 2,000 Taliban fighters from prison, his spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi said.

On Saturday, the Taliban declared a ceasefire to honour Eid ul-Fitr. Ghani welcomed the initiative and announced that the process of releasing Taliban prisoners would be expedited, urging the group to do the same.

"President Ghani today initiated a process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture in response to the Taliban's announcement of a ceasefire during Eid. The Afghanistan government is extending the offer of peace and is taking further steps to ensure the success of the peace process," Sediqqi said in a tweet.

On February 29, the US and the Taliban signed a peace deal in the Qatari capital of Doha, stipulating a beginning of intra-Afghan negotiations as well as prisoners' exchange.

(With inputs from ANI)