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Ghani orders release of 1,500 Taliban prisoners
President Ashraf Ghani has signed a decree to release 1500 Taliban prisoners, a move to pave the way for the start of the intr-Afghan dialogue.
Sediq Sediqqi, the presidential spokesman said that all released prisoners will have to give “a written guarantee to not return to the battlefield.”
The prisoners will be released from the prison of Parwan province within 15 days, as 100 prisoners will walk out of the custody per day, Sediqqi said.
The rest of 3500 prisoners would be released – 500 prisoners every two weeks – after the direct talks with the militants take place and if the group pledge to reduce the violence, Sediqqi added.
ماده سوم: بعد از آغاز و در جریان مذاکرات مستقیم میان هیات تعیین شده از جانب جمهوری اسلامی افغانستان و گروه طالبان، در هر دو هفته به تعداد 500 تن محبوس مربوط به گروه طالبان که مجموع شان به 3500 تن می رسد، مشروط به اینکه سطح خشونت ها به طور چشمگیر کاهش یابد، رها گردند.
— Sediq Sediqqi (@SediqSediqqi) March 10, 2020
The US and Taliban signed a deal on February 29 in Qatar, according to that, the Afghan government would release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners ahead of intra-Afghan talks, and in exchange, the militant group would release up to 1,000 Afghan government prisoners.
Meanwhile, the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Peace, Zalmay Khalilzad tweeted, ” I urge the two sides to sit down immediately for talks on this issue in Doha, Qatar to work out the details. The Afghan government has agreed to do so. When implemented, this will be a significant step in the peace process.”
Khalilzad calls on the Taliban group to fulfill its commitment to reduce violence in the country.
(1/3) President Ghani issued a decree tonight to release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners starting Saturday from a list provided by the Taliban. The Taliban had already agreed to release up to 1,000 prisoners from the Afghan government side.
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) March 10, 2020
“Despite these signs of progress, violence by the Taliban remains too high. We expect the Taliban to adhere to its commitments to reduce violence in order to allow for the release of prisoners to be implemented smoothly and the peace process to succeed,” Khalilzad said.
It comes as the US Army has begun pulling out troops from Afghanistan as part of the agreement with the Taliban.
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Slovenia contributes €200,000 to support UNFPA humanitarian work in Afghanistan
The Government of Slovenia has contributed €200,000 to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to support humanitarian work in Afghanistan, focusing on reproductive health and protection services for women and girls.
According to UNFPA, the funding will help expand access to essential maternal and reproductive health care across the country, particularly in areas where services remain limited and humanitarian needs are high.
UNFPA said the support will be used to reach vulnerable women and girls with life-saving health assistance and protection services as part of its ongoing response in Afghanistan.
The contribution comes as international aid agencies continue efforts to sustain basic health services amid ongoing economic and humanitarian challenges in the country.
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Afghanistan rejects Pakistan’s allegations as ‘baseless’
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has rejected recent accusations by Pakistani officials claiming that attacks inside Pakistan were planned from Afghan territory, describing the allegations as “baseless.”
Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, said Afghanistan believes regional issues should be addressed through dialogue, mutual respect, and genuine cooperation rather than accusations, emotional rhetoric, or threats.
He reaffirmed that Afghan territory would not be used against any country and stressed that no group or individual would be allowed to carry out activities that threaten regional peace and stability.
The remarks came after Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry reportedly summoned Afghanistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in Islamabad on Monday and handed over a formal protest note regarding an attack on a police post in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Pakistani authorities alleged that the attack had been planned from inside Afghanistan.
According to reports, the explosion occurred on Saturday evening in the Fathkhel area of Bannu, killing 15 police officers and injuring four others, including one civilian.
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UNAMA reports hundreds of civilian casualties in Pakistan-linked violence across Afghanistan
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has reported that nearly 800 civilians were killed or wounded during the first three months of 2026 in attacks and clashes linked to tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
According to the report, 95 security-related incidents were recorded between January and March along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border areas. The highest number of casualties was reported in Kabul, Kunar, and Paktika provinces, with women and children among those affected.
UNAMA stated that more than 750 civilian casualties occurred during armed confrontations involving Afghan security forces and Pakistani military forces. The report noted that 64 percent of the casualties were caused by airstrikes, while 35 percent resulted from rocket attacks.
The UN mission also said that approximately 94,000 people, including over 13,000 families, were displaced by the violence. Homes, schools, mosques, and other civilian properties were reportedly damaged during the clashes.
Among the deadliest incidents highlighted in the report was the March 2026 airstrike on a drug treatment center in Kabul.
UNAMA urged Pakistan to adhere to international humanitarian law and avoid targeting civilian-populated areas during military operations.
Meanwhile, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said militant attacks inside Pakistan were being conducted through Afghan territory with Indian support. He called for an end to militancy in Pakistan and urged Afghanistan not to allow its soil to be used for attacks against neighboring countries.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly rejected such allegations, describing them as baseless and insisting that Afghan territory will not be used against any country. Afghan officials have also argued that insecurity in Pakistan remains an internal issue for Islamabad.
The latest developments come amid ongoing regional tensions and growing concerns over cross-border violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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