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Khalilzad urges Afghan gov’t, Taliban to accelerate prisoner releases
The US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has welcomed the release of prisoners by the Afghan government and Taliban, urging the two sides to “accelerate” the process.
According to the US-Taliban deal which was signed on 29th February in Qatar, the Afghan government should release up to 5000 Taliban prisoners, in exchange; the group will free 1000 prisoners of the government.
“The release of prisoners is an important step in the peace process and the reduction of violence,” Khalilzad wrote on Twitter.
The US Envoy urged both the government and Taliban to accelerate prisoner releases so that to meet “targets specified in the US- Taliban agreement as soon as possible.”
“The potential for COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons poses a real threat and all the more reason to move urgently,” Khalilzad tweeted.
Meanwhile, Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the office of the National Security Council confirmed that so far the Afghan government has released 360 Taliban inmates, while the Taliban has released only 20 prisoners of the government.
“As per the decree, releases will continue across other prisons to free a total of 1,500 as part of our efforts to advance peace and fight COVID-19,” Faisal said.
The Taliban on Sunday released 20 government prisoners and handed them over to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in southern Kandahar province.
The group’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the move was taken for a “goodwill”, not in exchange for their prisoners’ release, adding more would be released but it depends on the further movement of the Afghan government.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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