Afghan government frees 100 Taliban prisoners as part of peace process

Differences over the prisoner release question have complicated this first step in what the US hopes is a lasting peace agreement to end more than 18 years of conflict in Afghanistan

A newly freed Taliban prisoner hugs his relatives outside Bagram prison, north of Kabul, Afghanistan. Reuters

The Afghan government freed 100 Taliban prisoners on Wednesday as a first step in a peace process with the hardline group, despite the group's suspension of talks on a planned prisoner exchange crucial to moving to formal talks to end years of war.

Differences over the prisoner release question have been complicating US-brokered attempts to create a lasting peace agreement to end more than 18 years of conflict in Afghanistan.

"The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan released 100 Taliban prisoners today based on their health condition, age and length of remaining sentence, as part of our efforts for peace," said Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghan National Security Council, which has been negotiating with the Taliban.

A February pact between the US and the Taliban, under which US-led international forces will withdraw in phases in exchange for Taliban security guarantees, is the best chance to reduce US military involvement in Afghanistan, said those involved.

But peace hinged on talks between the US-backed Afghan government and the militants. A prisoner exchange was meant to build confidence on both sides for those talks.

Despite this week's setbacks over the prisoner releases, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said progress had been made since he visited Kabul on March 23 and also met Taliban officials in Qatar to iron out the differences.