...the Pashtun equivalent of men...prisoners, according to the National Security Council.
The 900 prisoners were released from different prisons across the country, mainly from Pul-e-Charkhi Prison in Kabul and Bagram Prison in Parwan province.
The order for the release of these prisoners was issued by President Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money...
on the first day of Eid as he pledged to release up to 2,000 Taliban inmates. His announcement came as a response to the Taliban's calling a three-day ceasefire during Eid.
"The number will reach 2,000, but what remains is related to the Taliban... The continuance of violence by the Taliban will not help the grinding of the peace processor," said Javid Faisal, a front man for the National Security Council.
Some released prisoners said they want unity and solidarity in the country.
"We want unity and solidarity," said a released Taliban prisoner.
"Peace should come. There should be stability. Our country has witnessed forty years of war. We are happy for stability," said a released Taliban prisoner.
Critics still doubt the intentions of the prisoners and say they might return to the war as there is a lack of a monitoring system from them after they are freed.
"There is question about whether they will return to the battleground or to their homes," said MP Abdul Zahir Tamim.
"If we witness the release of 2,000 prisoners of the (Taliban), I can say for sure that the Islamic emirate will think about extending the ceasefire," said former Taliban member Jalaluddin Shinwari, referring to the group as Islamic emirate.
The Afghanistan Human Rights Commission said there should be guarantees on the prisoners to not return to the war.
"There will be individuals who have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity or there might be people who have cases against them... They should not be included among released prisoners," said Naeem Nazari, member of the commission.
Related:
Pul-e-Charkhi Prison: 2015-09-02 Haqqani Member Jailed Under Fake Name For Two Years
Pul-e-Charkhi Prison: 2014-07-04 Taliban Inmates Increase Insecurity
Pul-e-Charkhi Prison: 2015-09-02 Haqqani Member Jailed Under Fake Name For Two Years
Pul-e-Charkhi Prison: 2014-07-04 Taliban Inmates Increase Insecurity
Related:
Bagram Prison: 2019-12-23 Taliban: Intra-Afghan peace negotiations not possible until foreign-forces withdrawal agreement in place; Talibs get ok from ‘elders’ in Pakistan
Bagram Prison: 2014-09-21 US frees 14 more Pakistanis from Bagram prison
Bagram Prison: 2014-03-05 Security Officials Saber Rattling, Karzai Apart
Bagram Prison: 2019-12-23 Taliban: Intra-Afghan peace negotiations not possible until foreign-forces withdrawal agreement in place; Talibs get ok from ‘elders’ in Pakistan
Bagram Prison: 2014-09-21 US frees 14 more Pakistanis from Bagram prison
Bagram Prison: 2014-03-05 Security Officials Saber Rattling, Karzai Apart