Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Monday 16 March 2020

Afghan government postpones prisoner release, endangers deal

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — States but would not start
The Afghan government negotiations with Kabul
Saturday postponed the government or other politi-
release of 1,500 Taliban cal leaders until the prison-
prisoners, an Afghan of- ers were freed.
ficial said, a decision that Even if the Taliban were
could sabotage a peace ready to talk, it's not clear
deal signed last month be- when Kabul would be
tween the Taliban and the ready to field a negotiating
United States. team as the feud between
Jawed Faisal, spokesman opposing politicians has
for the Afghan National yet to be resolved.
Security Adviser's office, The United States has said
said the releases were be- its withdrawal of troops —
ing delayed because more which has already begun
time was needed to review — was not dependent on
the list of prisoners. The successful negotiations
move comes despite Presi- between Afghans on both
dent Ashraf Ghani's decree sides of the conflict.
earlier this week promising However, the U.S. State
the start of the releases Sat- Department has issued
urday as a good will ges- statements urging Kabul's
ture to get intra-Afghan ne- feuding politicians to find
gotiations started. a compromise, urged an
The U.S.-Taliban deal was end to "posturing" and said
touted at the time as the many of the Taliban prison-
best chance at ending Af- ers on the list had already
ghanistan's endless wars served their sentence and
and bringing U.S. troops Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, center, opens his coat after a few rockets are fired during his that the names were de-
home after nearly 19 years. speech after being sworn, at his inauguration ceremony at the presidential palace in Kabul, Af- cided after lengthy nego-
There was no immediate ghanistan, Monday, March 9, 2020. tiations.
response from the Taliban Associated Press Washington also chastised
to the delayed prisoner re- the Taliban for resuming at-
lease. were released. He would Abdullah Abdullah, who Wednesday said the first tacks on Afghanistan's se-
Faisal said Ghani's govern- then release the remain- has also declared himself round of 1,500 prisoners to curity forces, even though
ment wanted more time ing 3,500 after intra-Afghan president. Abdullah has be freed would be select- they promised not to at-
to review the list of prison- talks began and those re- so far refused to accept ed based on age, health tack U.S. and NATO troops.
ers. The U.S.-Taliban deal leases would be staggered the results of last year's and the length of their sen- Washington said the level
called for the release of up and would go ahead only presidential results charg- tences already served. The of Taliban violence was too
to 5,000 Taliban as well as if talks progressed and Tal- ing widespread irregulari- released prisoners, who high and wanted to see a
1,000 Afghan government iban reduced violence. ties and abuse of power would be biometrically reduction.
captives ahead of intra-Af- Although Ghani's decree by Ghani. Still, the national identified, would also have Despite the political chaos
ghan negotiations, consid- differs from the U.S.-Taliban election commission last to give a written guarantee in Kabul and increased vi-
ered a critical next step to deal, Faisal insisted Ghani month declared Ghani the that they would not return olence on the battlefield,
reaching a lasting peace in was committed to releas- winner despite allegations to the battlefield. the United States has start-
Afghanistan. ing 5,000 Taliban prisoners. lodged also by the elec- The Taliban handed off their ed withdrawing its troops
Ghani's decree promised However, Ghani is em- tions complaints commis- list of 5,000 to an American in keeping with the deal
the release of 100 prison- broiled in political turmoil in sion. negotiator, who delivered it signed Feb. 29 with the
ers a day beginning Sat- Kabul, where he is battling Meanwhile, the decree it to the Afghan govern- Taliban. In the first phase,
urday until 1,500 prisoners his leading political rival Ghani announced on ment administration. The Washington will reduce its
Taliban's spokesman in Qa- troops contingent to 8,600,
tar, where the insurgent down from the current
group maintains a politi- 13,000.
cal office, said the Taliban If the Taliban adhere to
would accept only those their commitments to deny
on the pre-approved list terrorists safe havens in Af-
and warned Kabul against ghanistan, Washington
offering substitutes. will withdraw the remain-
The Taliban said they are der of its troops over 14
committed to the deal months, according to the
they made with the United agreement.q