<p>Afghan authorities released 100 Taliban prisoners Monday as part of the government's response to a surprise, three-day ceasefire the insurgents called to mark the Eid al-Fitr festival.</p>

<p>The pause in fighting, only the second of its kind in Afghanistan's nearly 19-year-old war, was for the most part holding across the country on day two after the government welcomed the truce by announcing plans to release up to 2,000 Taliban inmates.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-president-ghani-pledges-to-release-up-to-2000-taliban-prisoners-300968" hreflang="en">Afghan president Ghani pledges to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners</a></p>

<p>President Ashraf Ghani said his administration was also ready to hold peace talks with the Taliban, seen as key to ending the war in the impoverished country.</p>

<p>"The government of Afghanistan has today released 100 Taliban prisoners from Bagram prison," National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal said.</p>

<p>He said the prisoner release was to "help the peace process" and will continue until 2,000 prisoners are freed.</p>

<p>Faisal said the authorities plan to release insurgent prisoners in batches of 100 daily.</p>

<p>"We hope this will eventually lead to a lasting peace that the people of Afghanistan so much desire and deserve," he said.</p>

<p>The current ceasefire is the first initiated by the Taliban. The only other comparable pause came over Eid in 2018, and was first offered by Ghani.</p>


Afghan authorities released 100 Taliban prisoners Monday as part of the government's response to a surprise, three-day ceasefire the insurgents called to mark the Eid al-Fitr festival.

Afghan authorities released 100 Taliban prisoners Monday as part of the government's response to a surprise, three-day ceasefire the insurgents called to mark the Eid al-Fitr festival. The pause in fighting, only the second of its kind in Afghanistan's nearly 19-year-old war, was for the most part holding across the country on day two after the government welcomed the truce by announcing plans to release up to 2,000 Taliban inmates. Also read: Afghan president Ghani pledges to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners President Ashraf Ghani said his administration was also ready to hold peace talks with the Taliban, seen as key to ending the war in the impoverished country. "The government of Afghanistan has today released 100 Taliban prisoners from Bagram prison," National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal said. He said the prisoner release was to "help the peace process" and will continue until 2,000 prisoners are freed. Faisal said the authorities plan to release insurgent prisoners in batches of 100 daily. "We hope this will eventually lead to a lasting peace that the people of Afghanistan so much desire and deserve," he said. The current ceasefire is the first initiated by the Taliban. The only other comparable pause came over Eid in 2018, and was first offered by Ghani.

Afghan government frees 2,000 Taliban prisoners during ceasefire

<p>Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has started the process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a "goodwill gesture".</p>

<p>The announcement came&nbsp;after the government welcomed the armed group's surprise announcement of a three-day ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.</p>

<p>The decision to release the prisoners was taken "to ensure success of the peace process", Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter on Sunday.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pres. Ghani today initiated a process to release up to 2000 Taliban prisoners as a good will gesture in response to the Taliban’s announcement of a ceasefire during Eid.The AFG Gov is extending the offer of peace and is taking further steps to ensure success of the peace process. <a href="https://t.co/So0UEB5Bpi">pic.twitter.com/So0UEB5Bpi</a></p>
— Sediq Sediqqi (@SediqSediqqi) <a href="https://twitter.com/SediqSediqqi/status/1264549213372911617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Meanwhile, the ceasefire appeared to hold as there were no reports of clashes between the Taliban and Afghan forces by the end of the first day on Sunday.</p>

<p>Ghani said a government delegation was "ready to immediately start the peace talks" with the Taliban.</p>

<p>Government negotiators would be headed by Ghani's former rival Abdullah Abdullah after the two signed a power-sharing deal last week that ended a months-long political crisis.</p>

<p>Before Sunday's announcement, Kabul had already released about 1,000 Taliban inmates while the Taliban had freed roughly 300 members of the Afghan security forces, according to reports.</p>


Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has started the process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a "goodwill gesture". The announcement came after the government welcomed the armed group's surprise announcement of a three-day ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has started the process to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners as a "goodwill gesture". The announcement came after the government welcomed the armed group's surprise announcement of a three-day ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The decision to release the prisoners was taken "to ensure success of the peace process", Ghani's spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter on Sunday. Pres. Ghani today initiated a process to release up to 2000 Taliban prisoners as a good will gesture in response to the Taliban’s announcement of a ceasefire during Eid.The AFG Gov is extending the offer of peace and is taking further steps to ensure success of the peace process. pic.twitter.com/So0UEB5Bpi — Sediq Sediqqi (@SediqSediqqi) May 24, 2020 × Meanwhile, the ceasefire appeared to hold as there were no reports of clashes between the Taliban and Afghan forces by the end of the first day on Sunday. Ghani said a government delegation was "ready to immediately start the peace talks" with the Taliban. Government negotiators would be headed by Ghani's former rival Abdullah Abdullah after the two signed a power-sharing deal last week that ended a months-long political crisis. Before Sunday's announcement, Kabul had already released about 1,000 Taliban inmates while the Taliban had freed roughly 300 members of the Afghan security forces, according to reports.

Afghan president Ghani pledges to release up to 2,000 Taliban prisoners

<p>Afghanistan's Taliban have decided to announce a three-day ceasefire during the holidays of Eid al-Fitr. The ceasefire will begin on Sunday and has come as a positive move following a bloody battle against Afghan forces after the agreement was signed with the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/afghanistan/afghans-throng-markets-ahead-of-muslim-holiday-despite-virus-fears-300665">Afghans throng markets ahead of Muslim holiday despite virus fears</a></p>

<p>The Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, will be observed on Sunday in Afghanistan, subject to the sighting of the moon.</p>

<p>President Ashraf Ghani has welcomed this move by Taliban and has ordered Afghan forces to comply, whereas, US envoy to Afghanistan has termed this deal as "momentous opportunity."</p>

<p>According to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, he made a statement on social media which read: "Taliban's leadership instructs all the mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate to take special measures for the security of the countrymen, and conduct no offensive operation against the enemy anywhere."</p>

<p>As per the statement, the Taliban has asked its insurgents to not enter government areas and told Afghan forces to not enter the areas controlled by them during the three days of ceasefire.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I welcome the ceasefire announcement by the Taliban. The Afghan government extends the offer of peace. As Commander in Chief I have instructed ANDSF to comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked. Further details will be given in my speech tomorrow morning.</p>
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashrafghani/status/1264272518166298627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Afghan President Ghani was quick to respond and took to Twitter to welcome the move where he said: "I welcome the ceasefire announcement by the Taliban. The Afghan government extends the offer of peace. As Commander in Chief, I have instructed ANDSF to comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked. Further details will be given in my speech tomorrow morning."</p>


Afghanistan's Taliban have decided to announce a three-day ceasefire during the holidays of Eid al-Fitr. The ceasefire will begin on Sunday and has come as a positive move following a bloody battle against Afghan forces after the agreement was signed with the United States.

Afghanistan's Taliban have decided to announce a three-day ceasefire during the holidays of Eid al-Fitr. The ceasefire will begin on Sunday and has come as a positive move following a bloody battle against Afghan forces after the agreement was signed with the United States. Also read: Afghans throng markets ahead of Muslim holiday despite virus fears The Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, will be observed on Sunday in Afghanistan, subject to the sighting of the moon. President Ashraf Ghani has welcomed this move by Taliban and has ordered Afghan forces to comply, whereas, US envoy to Afghanistan has termed this deal as "momentous opportunity." According to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, he made a statement on social media which read: "Taliban's leadership instructs all the mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate to take special measures for the security of the countrymen, and conduct no offensive operation against the enemy anywhere." As per the statement, the Taliban has asked its insurgents to not enter government areas and told Afghan forces to not enter the areas controlled by them during the three days of ceasefire. I welcome the ceasefire announcement by the Taliban. The Afghan government extends the offer of peace. As Commander in Chief I have instructed ANDSF to comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked. Further details will be given in my speech tomorrow morning. — Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) May 23, 2020 × Afghan President Ghani was quick to respond and took to Twitter to welcome the move where he said: "I welcome the ceasefire announcement by the Taliban. The Afghan government extends the offer of peace. As Commander in Chief, I have instructed ANDSF to comply with the three-days truce and to defend only if attacked. Further details will be given in my speech tomorrow morning."

Taliban announces three-day ceasefire during the holidays of Eid al-Fitr with government

US President Donald Trump expressed optimism at the state of talks as the Taliban and the United States try to negotiate an agreement on the withdrawal of US forces in exchange for a Taliban commitment on security and peace talks with Afghanistan's US-backed government. Watch this video to know more.

Donald Trump says 'very good discussions' with Taliban and  Afghan govt