Despite US pressure, Afghan government delays Taliban prisoner release

KABUL: Taliban guerrillas must end violence before the Afghan government releases their imprisoned fighters, a spokesman said on Thursday, a day after the US special envoy for Afghanistan said Washington would like to see the process begin as soon as possible.
In accordance with the historic deal the US and Taliban signed in Doha on Feb. 29, the Afghan government was obliged to free 5,000 Taliban inmates in return for 1,000 members of government security forces held by the Taliban side by March 10, when the first round of intra-Afghan peace negotiations — between the government and Taliban — was expected to start.
Based on an order by President Ashraf Ghani, who took the oath of office for a second term on March 9, the prisoner release process should have started on March 14.
The government has not justified the delay, but following the US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad’s call, a spokesman for the country’s national security adviser, Faisal Javid said on Thursday that “there has been no change with regards to the prisoner release as per the decree of the president,” but he specified a condition under which it could begin.
“It is important that the Taliban stop killing Afghans and Muslims and we get assurances that those released in the name of peace would not return to battle fields again,” he said in a video message sent to the media.
“It is time for them to end violence and commit to dignified peace,” Javid added.
Not only the prisoner release but also the scheduled peace talks between all Afghan sides have yet to commence. As Ghani’s contender in September’s presidential election Dr. Abdullah Abdullah announced himself the country’s ruler and vowed to form a parallel government, parties have been divided as of who should represent the government side during the intra-Afghan talks.
While Khalilzad has been trying to overcome Afghanistan’s deepening political crisis amid its dueling leaders’ claims to legitimacy, on Wednesday evening he said the prisoner release was urgent in light of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
“The United States would like to see prisoner releases begin as soon as possible in line with the US-Taliban agreement. No prisoners have been released to date despite the commitment to do so expressed by both sides,” Khalilzad said in a series of Twitter posts. 
“Coronavirus makes prisoner releases urgent; time is of the essence. We are committed to do our part and after consultation with all relevant sides, the United States understands,” he said.
The US envoy noted that technical teams from both sides can work together and focus on steps to begin prisoner release as soon as possible. He said he would participate in the initial meetings, although the current epidemic makes it more complex.
“While preferable to meet face-to-face, coronavirus and the resulting travel restrictions likely requires virtual engagement for now,” Khalilzad said, adding: “We call on all sides to avoid provocative media statements.”
“The Taliban commit that released prisoners will abide by the commitments made in the peace agreement and not return to the battlefield. A violation will undermine the peace process,” he said.
According to analyst Taj Mohammad, the Afghan government’s condition for the prisoner release process will even further delay the intra-Afghan talks and peace in the country.
“We are in an uncertain situation now and I think the government is attaching a condition that will lead to a postponement of the exchange and reduce hope for an earlier start of the talks,” he told Arab News.
Taliban representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.