“An unnamed member of the Taliban’s leadership council…accused the government of acting in bad faith, saying it only planned to release ‘those prisoners who are elderly, very ill, or those whose sentences have expired.”
But if they’re promising not to return to the battlefield, why does he care if they’re “elderly” or “very ill”?
The Taliban spokesman’s objection makes it clear that the chances that these jihadis will not actually return to the battlefield is about nil.
“Taliban prisoner swap begins as part of Afghan peace talks,” BBC, March 10, 2020:
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has approved the release of 1,500 Taliban prisoners as part of efforts to secure a peace deal with the insurgent group.
The presidential decree requires all prisoners to give “a written guarantee to not return to the battlefield”.
In exchange, the Taliban has agreed to hand over 1,000 government troops.
It comes as the US begins withdrawing troops from the country as part of a linked agreement signed earlier with the Taliban.
According to the decree signed by President Ghani, all 1,500 prisoners will be released within 15 days, “with 100 prisoners walking out of Afghan jails every day”.
Talks between the Afghan government and Taliban will take place in parallel with the release. If talks progress, the government has pledged to free 500 more Taliban prisoners every two weeks until a total of 5,000 have been released.
As part of the agreement, the Taliban must continue its reduction in violence, and bar al-Qaeda or any other extremist groups from operating in areas under their control.
The prisoner release is intended to build trust between both sides and kick off direct talks to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan. The talks were due to start on Tuesday, but negotiations were delayed by demands over the prisoner release.
Speaking with AFP news agency, an unnamed member of the Taliban’s leadership council said the group had presented a list of captives they wanted freed. But he accused the government of acting in bad faith, saying it only planned to release “those prisoners who are elderly, very ill, or those whose sentences have expired”….
Buraq says
Release all of them …. but not before infecting them with Coronavirus! “War is deceit”, as one paedophile warlord used to say!
mortimer says
‘Parole’ means that a prisoner gives his ‘word’ not to return to fighting. We will soon know how many of these fanatics have given up their belief in this absurd ideation.
Del says
Tawriyaa – they say what they think we want to hear.
mortimer says
Buraq, shame on you. Muslims are humans who have the wrong information. We should give them the correct information.
gravenimage says
The Nazis were just humans with the wrong information, as well. Sadly, that doesn’t mean they aren’t out to murder us.
toomanyhobbies says
BWAHAHAHA!!! if you are lame enough to believe them I have a bridge for sale in NYC you would love to have…
Ray Jarman says
I wonder if Ghani will have enough time to think, “OOOOOPS” when the Taliban or IS breaches his security and is about to remove his head from his shoulders or will he like many others who have pocketed millions from the American tax payer run off to Egypt or Europe? Once again it is the people who will brunt the pain but they too have permitted their nation to be ruled by fools and like others around the world who have voted or just stood by as others have voted to bring misery to themselves.
Naram-Sin says
That just might work, if they weren’t practitioners of taquiyya and COULD READ AND WRITE.
gravenimage says
Afghanistan: Ghani approves release of 1500 Taliban prisoners with “written guarantee to not return to battlefield”
……………..
Yeah–that’ll do the trick! sarc/off
willardy says
Yes; I promise! You have my word! Trust me! ………………………..chuckle….
Robert Powers says
…anyone who believes that….well I want to talk to them about that bridge in Brooklyn that I have for sale at a bargain price!!!!
jca reid says
Never believe Muslims you simply cannot trust them. This lot will be exported to….. whereever to murder/rape & carry on. Ought to shove them into Afghan & leave the entire lot to stew in their own shit! nobody goes in & nobody comes out. As the Spanish would say, “El tuffo shitto.”