RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan May 28, 2020 A Taliban delegation has arrived in Kabul for talks over a prisoner swap, just hours after Afghan officials blamed the militant group for a deadly attack in the country’s north. The prisoner exchange is part of a U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in February that called on the Afghan government
By Frud Bezhan Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 27, 2020 Afghanistan’s flagging peace process was on the verge of collapse following weeks of devastating militant attacks, mounting public anger, and the halt of a major prisoner swap. But a brief cease-fire between the government and the Taliban has breathed new life into efforts to negotiate an
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 26, 2020 KABUL — The Afghan government plans to release 900 more Taliban prisoners on May 26, as a cease-fire by the militants enters its third and final day. The break in fighting, which came into effect on May 24 to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, was for
Ayesha Tanzeem VOA News May 25, 2020 ISLAMABAD – Five countries, several of whom have been closely involved in efforts to bring peace to Afghanistan, issued a joint statement welcoming the Eid cease-fire in the country and calling on all parties to take it forward from here. “We encourage the parties to take further steps
Ayaz Gul VOA News May 24, 2020 ISLAMABAD – The Taliban have announced a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan during the three-day Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr starting Sunday, a move the United States hailed as “a momentous opportunity” to advance peace efforts in the war-torn country. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani quickly reciprocated the insurgent announcement
Ayaz Gul VOA News May 8, 2020 ISLAMABAD – The Taliban said Friday it has conveyed to the United States the insurgent group is not holding an American hostage missing in Afghanistan. U.S. envoy for Afghan peace and reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, has confirmed he called for the release of Mark Frerichs, a Navy veteran-turned contractor,
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty May 5, 2020 The Taliban has called on the Afghan government to speed up the release of prisoners in order to pave the way for negotiations with the militant movement. A landmark deal signed by the United States and the Taliban on February 29 calls for the Afghan government to release
By Ayaz Gul VOA News April 23, 2020 ISLAMABAD – The Taliban has turned down calls for a cease-fire in Afghanistan during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins Friday. The Afghan government and others had hoped to enable health officials to better respond to the “common threat” of the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesman for the Islamist
Tolo News: 55 Taliban prisoners were released on Wednesday from nine provinces, the Office of the National Security Council said Thursday. Javid Faisal, the council spokesman, said that the Taliban were released as part of the Afghan government’s efforts to “advance peace and fight COVID-19” in the country. Click here to read more (external link).
RFE/RL’s Radio Free Afghanistan April 22, 2020 KABUL — Afghanistan says it has released another 71 Taliban prisoners in a further step toward bringing the two sides together to negotiate a peace settlement. Javed Faisal, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a tweet that detainees had been released from seven prisons in the Nangarhar,