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Top US General urges Afghan gov’t, Taliban finish prisoner releases process
The level of violence is still high and the Taliban are attacking large parts of Afghanistan, and this challenge will be resolved through the exchange of prisoners and the start of Intra-Afghan negotiations, said Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, a US top military official.
The United States calls on the Afghan government and the Taliban to end the exchange of prisoners on both sides and to resume peace talks between Afghans as soon as possible. US national radio reports that after meeting with Afghan leaders, General Mackenzie stressed the need to end the prisoner exchange process quickly and reduce violence.
“I think this path is still the only way to get to a negotiated peace and end the situation there. I believe that the government of Afghanistan is trying to do everything it can to get ready to conduct Intra-Afghan dialogue direct negotiations with the Taliban. The Afghan government has committed to releasing 5,000 prisoners, and they are in the process of doing that now. They need to finish that release. That will be an important step,” said Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the commander of the United States Central Command.
But the Taliban are pushing for the release of the remaining prisoners, and have reportedly stepped up their attacks on security checkpoints for this reason.
The Office of the National Security Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had spoken of the high crime rate of these 600 prisoners compared to another 4,400, but people believe that these actions take the opportunity to start peace talks.
The government’s Ministry of Peace says the release of Taliban prisoners is carried out by the government in accordance with the country’s constitution and international standards.
The Ministry of Interior has announced the delivery of several new, modern cars to the General Directorate of Traffic Police, replacing the older fleet that consisted mostly of trucks.
According to a ministry statement, the new vehicles, equipped with special traffic police colors, markings, and modern equipment, are expected to play a key role in maintaining traffic order in cities and on main roads, preventing accidents, and providing faster services to the public.
Azerbaijan has released 14 Afghan nationals from its prisons, Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.
The ministry said in a statement that the release happened following efforts by Afghanistan’s embassy in Baku.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its appreciation to Azerbaijan and relevant authorities for their cooperation and humanitarian action. It also reaffirmed that the IEA will continue to follow up on and resolve the cases of Afghan prisoners.
Former U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, says Washington is largely satisfied with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s (IEA) efforts against terrorism, though progress in broader relations remains hindered by the issue of prisoners.
In an interview with NDTV, Khalilzad said the United States views the detention of at least two American citizens in Afghanistan as the primary obstacle to improving ties.
Khalilzad highlighted what he described as a “significant degree of satisfaction” in the U.S. assessment of the IEA’s counterterrorism commitments under the Doha Agreement. He said the IEA continue to fight Daesh, a group they have long considered an enemy. Many Daesh militants, he added, have been pushed out of Afghanistan and are now in Pakistan.
At the same time, Khalilzad said concerns remain regarding human rights and the political role of non-IEA Afghans.
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