Two women who had been charged and proven guilty for murdering an Afghanistan official have been officially released along with other Taliban prisoners under the Afghan-Taliban peace deal.

This duo had lured an Afghan official with promises of sex and had then shot him dead and dumped his body at a cemetery nearby. The two were then arrested and were kept with several other Taliban prisoners in Afghanistan.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-peace-talks-close-to-breaking-deadlock-official-344629" hreflang="en">Afghan peace talks 'close' to breaking deadlock: Official</a>

The two women were now released with other Taliban prisoners when Afghanistan government held peace talks with the Taliban.

Muzghan and her aunt Nasreen have confessed being a part of&nbsp;Taliban's ultra-violent Haqqani network. The two were also found guilty in several other murders. Their main charge was for killing an Afghan intelligence agent at their home where they had lured him "under the pretext of selling her body". After successfully luring him, the two shot the man with a pistol, fitted with a silencer, and then stuffed his corpse into a metal box which was then discarded at a nearby graveyard.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pompeo-meets-taliban-afghan-government-officials-in-qatar-344574" hreflang="en">Pompeo meets Taliban, Afghan government officials in Qatar</a>

The two were also infamous for brutal murders, other than their 'honeytrap' killings. They had also murdered their own relatives by poisoning one and setting a "sticky bomb" under the car seat of another.

"I was arrested for murder, kidnapping and cooperating with the Haqqani network," Muzghan said in a video authorities made prior to her release.

"I will not join this group again."

Two women who had been charged and proven guilty for murdering an Afghanistan official have been officially released along with other Taliban prisoners under the Afghan-Taliban peace deal.

Two women who had been charged and proven guilty for murdering an Afghanistan official have been officially released along with other Taliban prisoners under the Afghan-Taliban peace deal. This duo had lured an Afghan official with promises of sex and had then shot him dead and dumped his body at a cemetery nearby. The two were then arrested and were kept with several other Taliban prisoners in Afghanistan. Also read| Afghan peace talks 'close' to breaking deadlock: Official The two women were now released with other Taliban prisoners when Afghanistan government held peace talks with the Taliban. Muzghan and her aunt Nasreen have confessed being a part of Taliban's ultra-violent Haqqani network. The two were also found guilty in several other murders. Their main charge was for killing an Afghan intelligence agent at their home where they had lured him "under the pretext of selling her body". After successfully luring him, the two shot the man with a pistol, fitted with a silencer, and then stuffed his corpse into a metal box which was then discarded at a nearby graveyard. Also read| Pompeo meets Taliban, Afghan government officials in Qatar The two were also infamous for brutal murders, other than their 'honeytrap' killings. They had also murdered their own relatives by poisoning one and setting a "sticky bomb" under the car seat of another. "I was arrested for murder, kidnapping and cooperating with the Haqqani network," Muzghan said in a video authorities made prior to her release. "I will not join this group again."

Women who killed Afghan official with promises of sex, released with Taliban prisoners

Long-delayed peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government negotiators will begin Saturday in Qatar, officials said, marking a potentially momentous milestone in Afghanistan's 19-year-old war.&nbsp;

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Doha for the opening of the US-backed negotiations, as President Donald Trump seeks to honor his pledge to halt the country's "endless wars" overseas with just two months to go until he faces re-election.

The talks had originally been slated to start in March but were repeatedly pushed back amid disputes over a prisoner exchange that included the release of hundreds of battle-hardened Taliban fighters.

Trump announced Pompeo would depart Thursday "on a historic trip to Doha, Qatar, for the beginning of intra-Afghan peace negotiations."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/prisoners-sought-by-taliban-leave-for-doha-paving-way-for-peace-talks-326682">Also read:&nbsp;Prisoners sought by Taliban leave for Doha, paving way for peace talks</a>

The insurgents, the Afghan government and Qatari officials all confirmed on Thursday the talks would begin Saturday following an opening ceremony in Doha.

Pompeo, in a statement, called the talks a "historic" opportunity to end decades of war and bloodshed, adding "This opportunity must not be squandered".&nbsp;

Qatar's foreign ministry said the talks "are a serious and important step towards establishing sustainable peace in Afghanistan".

Afghanistan's former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, who now heads the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), was set to fly to Qatar on Friday.&nbsp;

"HCNR hopes that after a long wait, talks will lead to permanent peace &amp; stability &amp; an end to war," the council said on Twitter.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-say-team-in-qatar-for-afghan-peace-talks-325434">Also read:&nbsp;Taliban say team in Qatar for Afghan peace talks</a>

The talks come as Trump faces uncertain prospects in the November 3 election and he has pushed hard to pull back US forces from Afghanistan, where they rose to more than 12,000 under his watch to pressure the Taliban and Islamic State.

The number fell to about 8,600 in July following a February accord between Washington and the Taliban, and is expected to be around 4,500 in October.

Freed insurgents

Trump believes pushing ahead could boost his standing among voters fed up with conflicts that began almost two decades ago, after the September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attacks.

The announcement of the start of peace talks was delivered just hours after a final hurdle -- the fate of six Taliban prisoners linked to the killings of French and Australian civilians and troops -- appeared to have been resolved.

Peace talks were delayed for six months as the Taliban and Kabul conducted a US-brokered prisoner exchange. The Taliban released 1,000 Afghan troops, while Kabul freed 5,000 insurgents.&nbsp;

Paris and Canberra had objected to the freeing of six militants tied to killing French and Australian nationals, but a compromise appeared to have been struck by sending the insurgents into custody in Qatar.

Late on Thursday, the Taliban confirmed the six prisoners had arrived in Doha. They had been flown out of Kabul on a special plane, a Taliban source in Pakistan had told AFP earlier on Thursday.&nbsp;

The six included a former Afghan soldier charged with the killing of five French soldiers and injuring 13 others in 2012.

Another former Afghan soldier who murdered three Australia troops was also among the six.

The Taliban official said another two Taliban prisoners who murdered Frenchwoman Bettina Goislard, an employee of the UN refugee agency, had been released in Afghanistan's Wardak province.

Their release had also been initially opposed by Goislard's family and Paris.

The Afghan government did not immediately confirm the claim.

Long-delayed peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government negotiators will begin Saturday in Qatar, officials said, marking a potentially momentous milestone in Afghanistan's 19-year-old war.

Long-delayed peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government negotiators will begin Saturday in Qatar, officials said, marking a potentially momentous milestone in Afghanistan's 19-year-old war. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Doha for the opening of the US-backed negotiations, as President Donald Trump seeks to honor his pledge to halt the country's "endless wars" overseas with just two months to go until he faces re-election. The talks had originally been slated to start in March but were repeatedly pushed back amid disputes over a prisoner exchange that included the release of hundreds of battle-hardened Taliban fighters. Trump announced Pompeo would depart Thursday "on a historic trip to Doha, Qatar, for the beginning of intra-Afghan peace negotiations." Also read: Prisoners sought by Taliban leave for Doha, paving way for peace talks The insurgents, the Afghan government and Qatari officials all confirmed on Thursday the talks would begin Saturday following an opening ceremony in Doha. Pompeo, in a statement, called the talks a "historic" opportunity to end decades of war and bloodshed, adding "This opportunity must not be squandered". Qatar's foreign ministry said the talks "are a serious and important step towards establishing sustainable peace in Afghanistan". Afghanistan's former chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, who now heads the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR), was set to fly to Qatar on Friday. "HCNR hopes that after a long wait, talks will lead to permanent peace & stability & an end to war," the council said on Twitter. Also read: Taliban say team in Qatar for Afghan peace talks The talks come as Trump faces uncertain prospects in the November 3 election and he has pushed hard to pull back US forces from Afghanistan, where they rose to more than 12,000 under his watch to pressure the Taliban and Islamic State. The number fell to about 8,600 in July following a February accord between Washington and the Taliban, and is expected to be around 4,500 in October. Freed insurgents Trump believes pushing ahead could boost his standing among voters fed up with conflicts that began almost two decades ago, after the September 11, 2001 Al Qaeda attacks. The announcement of the start of peace talks was delivered just hours after a final hurdle -- the fate of six Taliban prisoners linked to the killings of French and Australian civilians and troops -- appeared to have been resolved. Peace talks were delayed for six months as the Taliban and Kabul conducted a US-brokered prisoner exchange. The Taliban released 1,000 Afghan troops, while Kabul freed 5,000 insurgents. Paris and Canberra had objected to the freeing of six militants tied to killing French and Australian nationals, but a compromise appeared to have been struck by sending the insurgents into custody in Qatar. Late on Thursday, the Taliban confirmed the six prisoners had arrived in Doha. They had been flown out of Kabul on a special plane, a Taliban source in Pakistan had told AFP earlier on Thursday. The six included a former Afghan soldier charged with the killing of five French soldiers and injuring 13 others in 2012. Another former Afghan soldier who murdered three Australia troops was also among the six. The Taliban official said another two Taliban prisoners who murdered Frenchwoman Bettina Goislard, an employee of the UN refugee agency, had been released in Afghanistan's Wardak province. Their release had also been initially opposed by Goislard's family and Paris. The Afghan government did not immediately confirm the claim.

After months of delays, 'historic' Afghan peace talks to open

Afghanistan started releasing Taliban prisoners on Friday the final hurdle in long-delayed peace talks between the two warring sides, even as President Ashraf Ghani warned they were a "danger to the world".

The "loya jirga" — the traditional gathering of tribal elders and other prominent citizens called by Ghani — approved the release to pave the way for talks and a possible ceasefire. 
The list of prisoners being released consists of few of very "high-profile" criminals who are guilty of some of the biggest tragedies of the world.

Considering such cases, France has objected to and protested against the release of three men who were jailed for the murders of French nationals in Afghanistan.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-authorities-begin-release-of-dangerous-taliban-prisoners-320396">Also read:&nbsp;Afghan authorities begin release of 'dangerous' Taliban prisoners</a>

The group of prisoners being released include two men who murdered a French national&nbsp;Bettina Goislard, an employee of the UN refugee agency, in the eastern city of Ghazni on November 16, 2003, and a former Afghan soldier who killed five French troops and injured 13 others in 2012 in Kapisa province.

France's Foreign Ministry issued a statement that said France is "firmly opposed to the liberation of individuals sentenced for crimes against French nationals, especially soldiers and humanitarian workers who served with dedication at the side of our Afghan partners for the security and assistance of people in need."&nbsp;

"We have consequently asked Afghan authorities not to proceed with the liberation of these terrorists," the statement continued.

Bettina Goislard's family also opposed the move.

The Taliban and Afghan government will be meeting days few days after the prisoner release is completed. The Afghan government faced huge criticism for the decision of releasing Talibani prisoners involved in attacks&nbsp;that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners.

Afghanistan started releasing Taliban prisoners on Friday the final hurdle in long-delayed peace talks between the two warring sides, even as President Ashraf Ghani warned they were a "danger to the world".

Afghanistan started releasing Taliban prisoners on Friday the final hurdle in long-delayed peace talks between the two warring sides, even as President Ashraf Ghani warned they were a "danger to the world". The "loya jirga" — the traditional gathering of tribal elders and other prominent citizens called by Ghani — approved the release to pave the way for talks and a possible ceasefire. The list of prisoners being released consists of few of very "high-profile" criminals who are guilty of some of the biggest tragedies of the world. Considering such cases, France has objected to and protested against the release of three men who were jailed for the murders of French nationals in Afghanistan. Also read: Afghan authorities begin release of 'dangerous' Taliban prisoners The group of prisoners being released include two men who murdered a French national Bettina Goislard, an employee of the UN refugee agency, in the eastern city of Ghazni on November 16, 2003, and a former Afghan soldier who killed five French troops and injured 13 others in 2012 in Kapisa province. France's Foreign Ministry issued a statement that said France is "firmly opposed to the liberation of individuals sentenced for crimes against French nationals, especially soldiers and humanitarian workers who served with dedication at the side of our Afghan partners for the security and assistance of people in need." "We have consequently asked Afghan authorities not to proceed with the liberation of these terrorists," the statement continued. Bettina Goislard's family also opposed the move. The Taliban and Afghan government will be meeting days few days after the prisoner release is completed. The Afghan government faced huge criticism for the decision of releasing Talibani prisoners involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners.

Paris protests release of Taliban prisoners who killed French nationals

Afghan authorities on Friday said they had started to release 400 Taliban prisoners, the final hurdle in long-delayed peace talks between the two warring sides, even as President Ashraf Ghani warned they were a "danger to the world".

The Afghan government and the Taliban are set to meet within days of the prisoner release being completed, in a move that has drawn widespread condemnation after it emerged many of the inmates were involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners.

A group of 80 prisoners was released on Thursday, said National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal, tweeting that it would "speed up efforts for direct talks and a lasting, nationwide ceasefire".

The peace talks will be held in Doha, Qatar.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-reacts-to-wion-interview-with-afghan-govt-spokesperson-says-peace-talks-after-prisoners-released-319716">Also read:&nbsp;Taliban reacts to WION interview with Afghan govt spokesperson; says peace talks after prisoners released</a>

The release of the 400 militants was approved at the weekend by a gathering of thousands of prominent Afghans called by Ghani after the authorities initially refused to free the militants.

The prisoners include some 44 insurgents of particular concern to the United States and other countries for their role in high-profile attacks, according to an official list seen by AFP.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said earlier this week he had lobbied for a former Afghan army soldier, who went rogue and killed three Australian colleagues, to stay in jail.

Ghani warned on Thursday that the hardened criminals were "likely to pose a danger both to us and to (America) and to the world".

"Until this issue, there was a consensus on the desirability of peace but not on the cost of it," Ghani said in a video conference organised by a US think tank.&nbsp;

"We have now paid the major installment on cost and that means peace will have consequences," he added, noting that the release of "hardened criminals" and drug dealers was "likely to pose a danger both to us and to (America) and to the world".

<img alt="Taliban prisoners being released" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73738e16-5dc8-4b31-aace-b1e1185d09a4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Taliban%20prisoners%20released%20%281%29.jpg" />

A prisoner swap formed part of a deal signed by the Taliban and the United States in February, which saw Washington agree to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in return for a pledge from the insurgents to hold peace talks with the Afghan government.

The Afghan government was excluded from that deal.

The February deal had stipulated that Kabul release 5,000 militants in return for 1,000 Afghan government prisoners held by the insurgents.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-warn-against-attacks-on-freed-prisoners-going-home-319776">Also read:&nbsp;Taliban warn against attacks on freed prisoners going home</a>

While Kabul released the bulk of Taliban prisoners as agreed in the deal, it had baulked at freeing the final 400.

The "loya jirga" -- the traditional gathering of tribal elders and other prominent citizens called by Ghani at the weekend -- approved the release to pave the way for talks and a possible ceasefire.

They asked authorities to monitor the freed prisoners to ensure they did not return to the battlefield.

Ahead of the jirga, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had urged the gathering to release the prisoners, although he acknowledged the move was "unpopular".

The Taliban, meanwhile, has warned of possible attacks against the freed prisoners by extremists of Islamic State group in coordination with Afghanistan's spy agency.

Afghan authorities on Friday said they had started to release 400 Taliban prisoners, the final hurdle in long-delayed peace talks between the two warring sides, even as President Ashraf Ghani warned they were a "danger to the world".

Afghan authorities on Friday said they had started to release 400 Taliban prisoners, the final hurdle in long-delayed peace talks between the two warring sides, even as President Ashraf Ghani warned they were a "danger to the world". The Afghan government and the Taliban are set to meet within days of the prisoner release being completed, in a move that has drawn widespread condemnation after it emerged many of the inmates were involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners. A group of 80 prisoners was released on Thursday, said National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal, tweeting that it would "speed up efforts for direct talks and a lasting, nationwide ceasefire". The peace talks will be held in Doha, Qatar. Also read: Taliban reacts to WION interview with Afghan govt spokesperson; says peace talks after prisoners released The release of the 400 militants was approved at the weekend by a gathering of thousands of prominent Afghans called by Ghani after the authorities initially refused to free the militants. The prisoners include some 44 insurgents of particular concern to the United States and other countries for their role in high-profile attacks, according to an official list seen by AFP. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said earlier this week he had lobbied for a former Afghan army soldier, who went rogue and killed three Australian colleagues, to stay in jail. Ghani warned on Thursday that the hardened criminals were "likely to pose a danger both to us and to (America) and to the world". "Until this issue, there was a consensus on the desirability of peace but not on the cost of it," Ghani said in a video conference organised by a US think tank. "We have now paid the major installment on cost and that means peace will have consequences," he added, noting that the release of "hardened criminals" and drug dealers was "likely to pose a danger both to us and to (America) and to the world". A prisoner swap formed part of a deal signed by the Taliban and the United States in February, which saw Washington agree to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan in return for a pledge from the insurgents to hold peace talks with the Afghan government. The Afghan government was excluded from that deal. The February deal had stipulated that Kabul release 5,000 militants in return for 1,000 Afghan government prisoners held by the insurgents. Also read: Taliban warn against attacks on freed prisoners going home While Kabul released the bulk of Taliban prisoners as agreed in the deal, it had baulked at freeing the final 400. The "loya jirga" -- the traditional gathering of tribal elders and other prominent citizens called by Ghani at the weekend -- approved the release to pave the way for talks and a possible ceasefire. They asked authorities to monitor the freed prisoners to ensure they did not return to the battlefield. Ahead of the jirga, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had urged the gathering to release the prisoners, although he acknowledged the move was "unpopular". The Taliban, meanwhile, has warned of possible attacks against the freed prisoners by extremists of Islamic State group in coordination with Afghanistan's spy agency.

Afghan authorities begin release of 'dangerous' Taliban prisoners

The Afghan government has agreed to release 400 Taliban prisoners, paving the way for direct peace talks with the insurgent group to end nearly two decades of war.

President Ashraf Ghani to sign release of 400 Taliban prisoners