Pakistani army has suffered major casualties during an operation against banned terror group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or Pakistan Taliban. The incident that happened on Monday saw the Pakistani army suffering 11 casualties includes Captain Abdul Basit from the 28 Baloch Regiment. Basit was on deputation to Thal Scouts of Pak Frontier Corps Wing.

The incident happened in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or KPK province where 6 employees of Pakistan's Jazz Mobile Operator were abducted by a militia operating the region. The exact location is Kurram District of Kohat division of KPK. The Pakistani forces had gone to rescue the abducted employees when the incident happened.

TTP has been behind a number of terror attacks in the country, including the recent bomb explosion near the Serena Hotel in Quetta, a location where the Chinese envoy to Pakistan was staying.

The development comes even as the Afghan Taliban, which is supported by Pakistan has been making territorial gains in Afghanistan. The increased violence level by the Afghan Taliban comes&nbsp;as Americans withdraw from the country after 20 years.

Pakistani army has suffered major casualties during an operation against banned terror group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or Pakistan Taliban. The incident that happened on Monday saw the Pakistani army suffering 11 casualties includes Captain Abdul Basit from the 28 Baloch Regiment.

Pakistani army has suffered major casualties during an operation against banned terror group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or Pakistan Taliban. The incident that happened on Monday saw the Pakistani army suffering 11 casualties includes Captain Abdul Basit from the 28 Baloch Regiment. Basit was on deputation to Thal Scouts of Pak Frontier Corps Wing. The incident happened in Pakistan's northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or KPK province where 6 employees of Pakistan's Jazz Mobile Operator were abducted by a militia operating the region. The exact location is Kurram District of Kohat division of KPK. The Pakistani forces had gone to rescue the abducted employees when the incident happened. TTP has been behind a number of terror attacks in the country, including the recent bomb explosion near the Serena Hotel in Quetta, a location where the Chinese envoy to Pakistan was staying. The development comes even as the Afghan Taliban, which is supported by Pakistan has been making territorial gains in Afghanistan. The increased violence level by the Afghan Taliban comes as Americans withdraw from the country after 20 years.

Pak army suffers major casualties during operation against Pakistan Taliban

While Washington continues troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, lawmakers in US have demanded answers from the Biden administration on its evacuation plan concerning 18,000 Afghans and&nbsp;their families who had supported the US-led war on terror. 
 
This comes amid reports that Pakistan is supporting the Taliban amass tanks and weapons across the border.

Acting Interior Minister of Afghanistan, Gen&nbsp;Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, has exposed the Pakistani role. Gen&nbsp;Mirzakwal said, "There is also information that the Taliban take some [military]&nbsp;tanks to Pakistan through Zabul province [in southern Afghanistan]. The National Security Council and the Commander in Chief have ordered permanent patrols to target any tank that is tried to be taken to Pakistan.”

His comments were echoed by other senior officials of the Afghan security establishment who claim to have seen proof of Pakistani involvement. Head of the independent directorate of local governance Shamim Khan Katawazai claimed, "They [Taliban]&nbsp;have taken military equipment owned by security forces across the Durand line. There are evidence and footage about this. Pakistani soldiers have clicked photos with them.”

The alarm raised by Afghan security establishment comes at a time when Afghan forces are engaged in fierce fighting with the Taliban in many parts of the country. The militant group has captured tanks and&nbsp;weapons as it continues to run over districts, bases and&nbsp;government held positions.

Meanwhile former US National Security Adviser John Bolton revealed that&nbsp;over the last two decades, Islamabad has provided a safe haven to Taliban fighters. Bolton, who served as the US National Security Adviser under Trump, also slammed Pakistan for helping the Taliban stage attacks on Afghan and&nbsp;US troops.

Bolton has warned Islamabad against playing with fire, "Parts of the Pakistani government are directly responsible for the Taliban’s return to power. If the Taliban seizes the power in Afghanistan, it will also be a threat to Pakistan as the extremist pressure on the Pakistani government will increase.”

The reports coming out of Afghanistan are alarming. They follow a US intelligence report, which warned that the government in Kabul could fall to the Taliban in six months following the US troop withdrawal.

While the Biden administration has committed to a complete US troop withdrawal by September 11&nbsp;this year, there is no concrete plan yet to evacuate the 18,000 Afghans who have applied for a Special Immigration Visa (SIV). These are drivers, navigators and&nbsp;interpreters who helped American troops in the war on terror. Lawmakers are demanding answers from Biden on how his government plans to evacuate these Afghans and&nbsp;53,000 family members.

Biden last week said Afghans who helped American troops won't be left behind, but US lawmakers are demanding a concrete evacuation plan. Some have even suggested Guam as a possible destination for these Afghans.

The process of evacuation of 70,000+ people will take time, but with only 75 days left to the September 11 deadline, time is a luxury these Afghans don't have.

Senator Angus King warned, "The Taliban has made no secret of the fact that they [Afghans who helped US troops]&nbsp;are in grave danger. They have already started killing them. If we leave without providing for the safety of those people, providing them a way to maintain their lives, it will be a stain on this country that will exist for generations."

Chris Purdy from Veterans for American Ideals at Human Rights first asked&nbsp;Biden, "Why did you wait so long? Why wasn't this part of the plan for the withdrawal? That's just a question that weighs on a lot of us in this community. We’ve been saying this for the last four months."

While Washington continues troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, lawmakers in US have demanded answers from the Biden administration on its evacuation plan concerning 18,000 Afghans and their families who had supported the US-led war on terror.

While Washington continues troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, lawmakers in US have demanded answers from the Biden administration on its evacuation plan concerning 18,000 Afghans and their families who had supported the US-led war on terror. This comes amid reports that Pakistan is supporting the Taliban amass tanks and weapons across the border. Acting Interior Minister of Afghanistan, Gen Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, has exposed the Pakistani role. Gen Mirzakwal said, "There is also information that the Taliban take some [military] tanks to Pakistan through Zabul province [in southern Afghanistan]. The National Security Council and the Commander in Chief have ordered permanent patrols to target any tank that is tried to be taken to Pakistan.” His comments were echoed by other senior officials of the Afghan security establishment who claim to have seen proof of Pakistani involvement. Head of the independent directorate of local governance Shamim Khan Katawazai claimed, "They [Taliban] have taken military equipment owned by security forces across the Durand line. There are evidence and footage about this. Pakistani soldiers have clicked photos with them.” The alarm raised by Afghan security establishment comes at a time when Afghan forces are engaged in fierce fighting with the Taliban in many parts of the country. The militant group has captured tanks and weapons as it continues to run over districts, bases and government held positions. Meanwhile former US National Security Adviser John Bolton revealed that over the last two decades, Islamabad has provided a safe haven to Taliban fighters. Bolton, who served as the US National Security Adviser under Trump, also slammed Pakistan for helping the Taliban stage attacks on Afghan and US troops. Bolton has warned Islamabad against playing with fire, "Parts of the Pakistani government are directly responsible for the Taliban’s return to power. If the Taliban seizes the power in Afghanistan, it will also be a threat to Pakistan as the extremist pressure on the Pakistani government will increase.” The reports coming out of Afghanistan are alarming. They follow a US intelligence report, which warned that the government in Kabul could fall to the Taliban in six months following the US troop withdrawal. While the Biden administration has committed to a complete US troop withdrawal by September 11 this year, there is no concrete plan yet to evacuate the 18,000 Afghans who have applied for a Special Immigration Visa (SIV). These are drivers, navigators and interpreters who helped American troops in the war on terror. Lawmakers are demanding answers from Biden on how his government plans to evacuate these Afghans and 53,000 family members. Biden last week said Afghans who helped American troops won't be left behind, but US lawmakers are demanding a concrete evacuation plan. Some have even suggested Guam as a possible destination for these Afghans. The process of evacuation of 70,000+ people will take time, but with only 75 days left to the September 11 deadline, time is a luxury these Afghans don't have. Senator Angus King warned, "The Taliban has made no secret of the fact that they [Afghans who helped US troops] are in grave danger. They have already started killing them. If we leave without providing for the safety of those people, providing them a way to maintain their lives, it will be a stain on this country that will exist for generations." Chris Purdy from Veterans for American Ideals at Human Rights first asked Biden, "Why did you wait so long? Why wasn't this part of the plan for the withdrawal? That's just a question that weighs on a lot of us in this community. We’ve been saying this for the last four months."

Pakistan is helping Taliban gather tanks across border, claims Afghan interior minister

KABUL, Afghanistan — In a long conflict waged by men, she has been a rare female warlord, defending her fief in northern Afghanistan against the Taliban, her own relatives and even against the U.S.-backed central government she allied with.

As she grew into her 70s, ailing and bedridden with bad knees, the warlord, Bibi Ayesha, took pride in having an undefeated record in decades of war. She is popularly known by a nom de guerre: Commander Kaftar, which means “pigeon” in Farsi, “because she moved and killed with the elegance of a bird,” as one profile put it.

On Thursday, the Taliban declared the end of her high-flying days: Kaftar, along with her men, had surrendered to them, they said in a statement.

“The officials of our Invite and Guidance Commission welcomed them,” the statement said.

Local officials in restive Baghlan province, where she is based, and her relatives confirmed the commander’s surrender and said it was an act of survival. Her valley was so surrounded, with other neighboring militias switching sides to the Taliban, that she had no choice.

Mohammad Hanif Kohgadai, a member of the Baghlan provincial council representing Kaftar’s district, said she had reached a deal through a Taliban commander related to her family.

“The Taliban spent the night at Commander Kaftar’s house, they ate there,” Kohgadai said in an interview Friday. “Today, they left the house and took with them 13 weapons and other military gear.”

One of Kaftar’s sons played down the episode, saying it was more a truce than a surrender.

“It is just a rumor. My mother is sick,” said Raz Mohammad, one of her three remaining sons. (Three others were killed in years of fighting.) “She hasn’t joined the Taliban. We don’t fight the Taliban anymore; we have weapons to protect ourselves from our enemies.”

Kaftar’s surrender brings little to the Taliban militarily but is another propaganda victory against the struggling Afghan government, suggesting that in a bloody, stalemated war some were switching sides to the insurgents. The Taliban have increasingly reached out to those disenchanted with the Afghan government as the country’s military struggles amid the continuing U.S. withdrawal.

For a group that kept women confined to their homes when they were in power in the 1990s, a Taliban alliance with a female commander could prove tricky. The Taliban have yet to provide any detailed positions in ongoing peace talks on the role of women in a future government. But what makes Kaftar’s shift easier is that she commands hundreds of men in a deeply conservative and misogynistic society.

The surrender exposes a larger vulnerability of the Afghan government: Its defenses are partly reliant on thousands of unreliable militias with track records of abuse and local feuding, and a history of switching sides.

President Ashraf Ghani has sent mixed signals about the militias over the years.

When Ghani came to office in late 2014, he tried aggressively to dismantle the militias. Encountering the president’s wrath, militia commanders simply refused to fight the Taliban, opening the way for the insurgents to march on Kunduz City.

In recent years, as the Afghan army and police have been stretched thin against Taliban offensives, Ghani has accepted the militias as a reality. Over the summer, the Afghan president spoke publicly about “investing more” in some militias as a line of defense.

Kaftar’s experience speaks to the complicated reality upon which the U.S.-bankrolled democracy has been built — on the legacy of a previous invasion and years of anarchy and warlord rule.

Her reputation began to grow with the killing of Soviet commandos who had swarmed her valley during an invasion starting in 1979. She has not put down arms since, raising a militia that protected her valley as her little kingdom. Even when the Taliban swept through most of Afghanistan in the 1990s, she fended them off.

She has often recounted how she taunted the Taliban commander for her province with a lose-lose offer: If she arrested him, she would parade him around town on a donkey and people would laugh at him for being defeated by a woman. And if he arrested her? The town would scold the Taliban commander for arresting a woman.

After the U.S. invasion in 2001, the new Afghan government moved to disarm militias like hers. She and many other militia commanders resisted. Asked about the government wanting to disarm her, she said, “If they come, you will see what I will do to the government.”

Even in Kabul she was celebrated as an anti-Taliban hero and inspiration for women, with the country’s former human rights chief attending a celebration of her hosted by Afghanistan’s vice president.

“This war won’t end in peace — only God, or this beautiful Kalashinkov can solve it,” she once said in an interview, the weapon on her lap. “The Taliban are not capable of change or reform.”

But even as media reports list 20 of her family members lost in the war with the Taliban, much of her fight in recent years has involved spiraling family feuds.

Some of those disputes, including a fight with one of her sisters, have dragged on over two decades with many dead on each side. In another prolonged feud, she chased a relative out of the valley after deaths on both sides, only for the man to return years later as a commander of the Taliban that she has now surrendered to.

The news of Kaftar’s fate raised questions of whether it was the result of a truce between two families, or as it was publicly portrayed: the surrender of a militia commander to a Taliban leader. In large parts of Afghanistan, with the lines of war increasingly blurred, the two are the same.

“Commander Pigeon was an old decrepit warlord, a broken-down woman,” writer Jennifer Percy wrote in a 2014 profile in The New Republic. “Lonely, she survived on attention, on her ability to inspire fear through the power of her own myth. In Afghanistan, the ability to create a mythology is powerful, maybe even more powerful than military prowess.”

KABUL, Afghanistan — In a long conflict waged by men, she has been a rare female warlord, defending her fief in northern Afghanistan against the Taliban, her own relatives and even against the U.

KABUL, Afghanistan — In a long conflict waged by men, she has been a rare female warlord, defending her fief in northern Afghanistan against the Taliban, her own relatives and even against the U.S.-backed central government she allied with. As she grew into her 70s, ailing and bedridden with bad knees, the warlord, Bibi Ayesha, took pride in having an undefeated record in decades of war. She is popularly known by a nom de guerre: Commander Kaftar, which means “pigeon” in Farsi, “because she moved and killed with the elegance of a bird,” as one profile put it. On Thursday, the Taliban declared the end of her high-flying days: Kaftar, along with her men, had surrendered to them, they said in a statement. “The officials of our Invite and Guidance Commission welcomed them,” the statement said. Local officials in restive Baghlan province, where she is based, and her relatives confirmed the commander’s surrender and said it was an act of survival. Her valley was so surrounded, with other neighboring militias switching sides to the Taliban, that she had no choice. Mohammad Hanif Kohgadai, a member of the Baghlan provincial council representing Kaftar’s district, said she had reached a deal through a Taliban commander related to her family. “The Taliban spent the night at Commander Kaftar’s house, they ate there,” Kohgadai said in an interview Friday. “Today, they left the house and took with them 13 weapons and other military gear.” One of Kaftar’s sons played down the episode, saying it was more a truce than a surrender. “It is just a rumor. My mother is sick,” said Raz Mohammad, one of her three remaining sons. (Three others were killed in years of fighting.) “She hasn’t joined the Taliban. We don’t fight the Taliban anymore; we have weapons to protect ourselves from our enemies.” Kaftar’s surrender brings little to the Taliban militarily but is another propaganda victory against the struggling Afghan government, suggesting that in a bloody, stalemated war some were switching sides to the insurgents. The Taliban have increasingly reached out to those disenchanted with the Afghan government as the country’s military struggles amid the continuing U.S. withdrawal. For a group that kept women confined to their homes when they were in power in the 1990s, a Taliban alliance with a female commander could prove tricky. The Taliban have yet to provide any detailed positions in ongoing peace talks on the role of women in a future government. But what makes Kaftar’s shift easier is that she commands hundreds of men in a deeply conservative and misogynistic society. The surrender exposes a larger vulnerability of the Afghan government: Its defenses are partly reliant on thousands of unreliable militias with track records of abuse and local feuding, and a history of switching sides. President Ashraf Ghani has sent mixed signals about the militias over the years. When Ghani came to office in late 2014, he tried aggressively to dismantle the militias. Encountering the president’s wrath, militia commanders simply refused to fight the Taliban, opening the way for the insurgents to march on Kunduz City. In recent years, as the Afghan army and police have been stretched thin against Taliban offensives, Ghani has accepted the militias as a reality. Over the summer, the Afghan president spoke publicly about “investing more” in some militias as a line of defense. Kaftar’s experience speaks to the complicated reality upon which the U.S.-bankrolled democracy has been built — on the legacy of a previous invasion and years of anarchy and warlord rule. Her reputation began to grow with the killing of Soviet commandos who had swarmed her valley during an invasion starting in 1979. She has not put down arms since, raising a militia that protected her valley as her little kingdom. Even when the Taliban swept through most of Afghanistan in the 1990s, she fended them off. She has often recounted how she taunted the Taliban commander for her province with a lose-lose offer: If she arrested him, she would parade him around town on a donkey and people would laugh at him for being defeated by a woman. And if he arrested her? The town would scold the Taliban commander for arresting a woman. After the U.S. invasion in 2001, the new Afghan government moved to disarm militias like hers. She and many other militia commanders resisted. Asked about the government wanting to disarm her, she said, “If they come, you will see what I will do to the government.” Even in Kabul she was celebrated as an anti-Taliban hero and inspiration for women, with the country’s former human rights chief attending a celebration of her hosted by Afghanistan’s vice president. “This war won’t end in peace — only God, or this beautiful Kalashinkov can solve it,” she once said in an interview, the weapon on her lap. “The Taliban are not capable of change or reform.” But even as media reports list 20 of her family members lost in the war with the Taliban, much of her fight in recent years has involved spiraling family feuds. Some of those disputes, including a fight with one of her sisters, have dragged on over two decades with many dead on each side. In another prolonged feud, she chased a relative out of the valley after deaths on both sides, only for the man to return years later as a commander of the Taliban that she has now surrendered to. The news of Kaftar’s fate raised questions of whether it was the result of a truce between two families, or as it was publicly portrayed: the surrender of a militia commander to a Taliban leader. In large parts of Afghanistan, with the lines of war increasingly blurred, the two are the same. “Commander Pigeon was an old decrepit warlord, a broken-down woman,” writer Jennifer Percy wrote in a 2014 profile in The New Republic. “Lonely, she survived on attention, on her ability to inspire fear through the power of her own myth. In Afghanistan, the ability to create a mythology is powerful, maybe even more powerful than military prowess.”

A storied female warlord surrenders, Taliban say, exposing afghan weakness

The Afghan government has begun releasing the last Taliban prisoners from a final batch of 400 before they agree to start peace negotiations, a security agency spokesman said on Friday.

Fineprint: Afghanistan government begins releasing last 400 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

Thousands of Afghan elders, community leaders and politicians gathered on Friday to debate government efforts to make peace with the Taliban, in particular the fate of 400 hard-core Taliban prisoners whose release could clear the way for talks.

Some 3,200 people have been invited to the grand assembly, known as a Loya Jirga, in Kabul amid tight security to debate for at least three days and then advise the government on whether the prisoners should be freed.

As part of a February pact between the United States and the Taliban allowing for the withdrawal of US&nbsp;troops, it was agreed that some 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released from Afghan jails as a condition for talks between the militants and the US-backed government.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pompeo-speaks-with-pak-foreign-minister-on-afghanistan-and-regional-stability-319040">Also read:&nbsp;Pompeo speaks with Pak foreign minister on Afghanistan and regional stability</a>

The government has released all but some 400 militants it says have been convicted of the worst crimes including killings, drug trafficking and kidnapping.

While many Afghans see the peace effort as the best hope for ending the 19-year war with the Taliban, some are concerned about the militants' commitment to reconciliation, especially after the United States completes its troop withdrawal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/chaos-erupts-as-afghanistan-holds-meeting-to-decide-fate-of-talibani-prisoners-318905">Also read:&nbsp;Chaos erupts as Afghanistan holds meeting to decide fate of Talibani prisoners</a>

US&nbsp;special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, the architect of the deal allowing the United States to withdraw its forces and end its longest-ever war, warned against the Loya Jirga throwing up any complications.

"We wish the jirga participants success ... and urge them not to allow those who prefer the status quo and seek to complicate the path to peace to manipulate the process," Khalilzad said on Twitter. He did not elaborate.

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1/3 An Afghan Loya Jirga will be convened Aug 7. It is an historic opportunity to remove the last hurdle to direct peace talks. A positive outcome will mean a reduction in violence and Afghans immediately coming together at the negotiating table.<a href="https://t.co/kgavOZrBBy">https://t.co/kgavOZrBBy</a>
— U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) <a href="https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1291577390762799104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Afghanistan’s constitution recognises the Loya Jirga as "the highest manifestation of the will of the people of Afghanistan".

The head of its secretariat, Abdul Salam Rahimi, said its decision was necessary as President Ashraf Ghani was not empowered to release prisoners convicted of such serious crimes.

He said precautions would be taken to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Thousands of Afghan elders, community leaders and politicians gathered on Friday to debate government efforts to make peace with the Taliban, in particular the fate of 400 hard-core Taliban prisoners whose release could clear the way for talks.

Thousands of Afghan elders, community leaders and politicians gathered on Friday to debate government efforts to make peace with the Taliban, in particular the fate of 400 hard-core Taliban prisoners whose release could clear the way for talks. Some 3,200 people have been invited to the grand assembly, known as a Loya Jirga, in Kabul amid tight security to debate for at least three days and then advise the government on whether the prisoners should be freed. As part of a February pact between the United States and the Taliban allowing for the withdrawal of US troops, it was agreed that some 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released from Afghan jails as a condition for talks between the militants and the US-backed government. Also read: Pompeo speaks with Pak foreign minister on Afghanistan and regional stability The government has released all but some 400 militants it says have been convicted of the worst crimes including killings, drug trafficking and kidnapping. While many Afghans see the peace effort as the best hope for ending the 19-year war with the Taliban, some are concerned about the militants' commitment to reconciliation, especially after the United States completes its troop withdrawal. Also read: Chaos erupts as Afghanistan holds meeting to decide fate of Talibani prisoners US special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, the architect of the deal allowing the United States to withdraw its forces and end its longest-ever war, warned against the Loya Jirga throwing up any complications. "We wish the jirga participants success ... and urge them not to allow those who prefer the status quo and seek to complicate the path to peace to manipulate the process," Khalilzad said on Twitter. He did not elaborate. 1/3 An Afghan Loya Jirga will be convened Aug 7. It is an historic opportunity to remove the last hurdle to direct peace talks. A positive outcome will mean a reduction in violence and Afghans immediately coming together at the negotiating table.https://t.co/kgavOZrBBy — U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace) August 7, 2020 × Afghanistan’s constitution recognises the Loya Jirga as "the highest manifestation of the will of the people of Afghanistan". The head of its secretariat, Abdul Salam Rahimi, said its decision was necessary as President Ashraf Ghani was not empowered to release prisoners convicted of such serious crimes. He said precautions would be taken to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

US Special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad warns against possible complications in Loya Jirga

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged prominent Afghans holding a major meeting Friday to free Taliban prisoners, promising help if the war-torn nation moves forward on peace efforts.

"We acknowledge that the release of these prisoners is unpopular," Pompeo said in a statement.

"But this difficult action will lead to an important result long sought by Afghans and Afghanistan's friends: reduction of violence and direct talks resulting in a peace agreement and an end to the war."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-foreign-minister-says-pakistani-terror-groups-have-symbiotic-relations-with-al-qaeda-is-318709">Also read|&nbsp;Afghan foreign minister says Pakistani terror groups have symbiotic relations with Al Qaeda, IS</a>

In a statement unthinkable after the September 11, 2001 attacks triggered the US invasion, the top US diplomat told Afghan leaders that the Taliban were committed to reducing violence after talks start.

"The United States intends to hold the Taliban to these commitments," Pompeo said.

The Taliban are demanding the release of 400 prisoners -- many accused of serious offenses, with more than 150 on death row -- as a condition to start peace talks with the internationally recognized government in Kabul.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-10-taliban-terrorists-killed-as-clashes-resume-post-eid-ceasefire-318642">Also read|&nbsp;Afghanistan: 10 Taliban terrorists killed as clashes resume post Eid ceasefire</a>

President Ashraf Ghani deferred the decision on whether to release these inmates to a loya jirga -- a traditional Afghan meeting of tribal elders and other stakeholders.

President Donald Trump's administration is eager to wind down America's longest war and showcase a foreign policy success ahead of November elections.

The United States on February 29 signed a deal with the Taliban under which all US troops would leave by mid-2021.

Pompeo vowed that the United States would maintain support for Afghanistan.

"We are ready to support a peace settlement, including by extending US development programs to previously underserved areas," Pompeo said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged prominent Afghans holding a major meeting Friday to free Taliban prisoners, promising help if the war-torn nation moves forward on peace efforts.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged prominent Afghans holding a major meeting Friday to free Taliban prisoners, promising help if the war-torn nation moves forward on peace efforts. "We acknowledge that the release of these prisoners is unpopular," Pompeo said in a statement. "But this difficult action will lead to an important result long sought by Afghans and Afghanistan's friends: reduction of violence and direct talks resulting in a peace agreement and an end to the war." Also read| Afghan foreign minister says Pakistani terror groups have symbiotic relations with Al Qaeda, IS In a statement unthinkable after the September 11, 2001 attacks triggered the US invasion, the top US diplomat told Afghan leaders that the Taliban were committed to reducing violence after talks start. "The United States intends to hold the Taliban to these commitments," Pompeo said. The Taliban are demanding the release of 400 prisoners -- many accused of serious offenses, with more than 150 on death row -- as a condition to start peace talks with the internationally recognized government in Kabul. Also read| Afghanistan: 10 Taliban terrorists killed as clashes resume post Eid ceasefire President Ashraf Ghani deferred the decision on whether to release these inmates to a loya jirga -- a traditional Afghan meeting of tribal elders and other stakeholders. President Donald Trump's administration is eager to wind down America's longest war and showcase a foreign policy success ahead of November elections. The United States on February 29 signed a deal with the Taliban under which all US troops would leave by mid-2021. Pompeo vowed that the United States would maintain support for Afghanistan. "We are ready to support a peace settlement, including by extending US development programs to previously underserved areas," Pompeo said.

Pompeo urges key Afghan gathering to free Taliban prisoners

Amid scenes of chaos, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged thousands of prominent people in a gathering to help him decide the fate of about 400 Taliban prisoners, which includes those involved in serious crimes.&nbsp;

Ghani said these words as he opened three-day Loya Jirga, a traditional assembly of tribal elders and other stakeholders sometimes organised to take a call on controversial issues.&nbsp;

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Chaotic scenes witnessed in the Afghanistan Council after an independent parliamentarian, Belqis Roshan, was assaulted following her criticism of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (<a href="https://twitter.com/ashrafghani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ashrafghani</a>) over the release of Taliban prisoners <a href="https://t.co/0uUiryVWgN">pic.twitter.com/0uUiryVWgN</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1291722007994867713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-grand-assembly-gathers-to-decide-fate-of-taliban-prisoners-318807">Afghan grand assembly gathers to decide fate of Taliban prisoners</a>

The release of these Taliban terrorists, some of whom are also facing the death penalty, didn't go down well with Roshan Belqis, an independent lawmaker, who criticised Loya Jirga and Ghani for deliberations.&nbsp;

As Ghani began speaking, she stood up and displayed a banner that read: "Redeeming Taliban is national treason."

Belqis was asked to leave and then as she began running with the banner, she was chased down by a pro-Talibani leader Nasimah Niazi, who brutally pushed her towards the floor.

The Afghan government has already released about 5,000 Talibani prisoners but is struggling to make a call on remaining 400 prisoners, some of which are accused of gruesome crimes.

As per an earlier agreement signed between the terror group and the US, the release of Talibani inmates is a pre-condition for intra-Afghan talks.

Ghani, during his address, suggested that the prisoners should be released, if talks need to go ahead.

"If they are not freed, not only would they continue the war but they would intensify it. But it was not possible to release them without consulting the nation," the Afghan president said.&nbsp;

However, he said he would endorse any decision taken by the assembly.&nbsp;

Amid scenes of chaos, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged thousands of prominent people in a gathering to help him decide the fate of about 400 Taliban prisoners, which includes those involved in serious crimes.

Amid scenes of chaos, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged thousands of prominent people in a gathering to help him decide the fate of about 400 Taliban prisoners, which includes those involved in serious crimes. Ghani said these words as he opened three-day Loya Jirga, a traditional assembly of tribal elders and other stakeholders sometimes organised to take a call on controversial issues. Chaotic scenes witnessed in the Afghanistan Council after an independent parliamentarian, Belqis Roshan, was assaulted following her criticism of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) over the release of Taliban prisoners pic.twitter.com/0uUiryVWgN — WION (@WIONews) August 7, 2020 × Also read | Afghan grand assembly gathers to decide fate of Taliban prisoners The release of these Taliban terrorists, some of whom are also facing the death penalty, didn't go down well with Roshan Belqis, an independent lawmaker, who criticised Loya Jirga and Ghani for deliberations. As Ghani began speaking, she stood up and displayed a banner that read: "Redeeming Taliban is national treason." Belqis was asked to leave and then as she began running with the banner, she was chased down by a pro-Talibani leader Nasimah Niazi, who brutally pushed her towards the floor. The Afghan government has already released about 5,000 Talibani prisoners but is struggling to make a call on remaining 400 prisoners, some of which are accused of gruesome crimes. As per an earlier agreement signed between the terror group and the US, the release of Talibani inmates is a pre-condition for intra-Afghan talks. Ghani, during his address, suggested that the prisoners should be released, if talks need to go ahead. "If they are not freed, not only would they continue the war but they would intensify it. But it was not possible to release them without consulting the nation," the Afghan president said. However, he said he would endorse any decision taken by the assembly.

Chaos erupts as Afghanistan holds meeting to decide fate of Talibani prisoners

Thousands of Afghan elders, community leaders and politicians gathered on Friday to debate government efforts to make peace with the Taliban, in particular the fate of 400 hard-core Taliban prisoners whose release could clear the way for talks.

Some 3,200 people have been invited to the grand assembly, known as a Loya Jirga, in Kabul amid tight security to debate for at least three days and then advise the government on whether the prisoners should be freed.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeo-urges-key-afghan-gathering-to-free-taliban-prisoners-318770">Also read:&nbsp;Pompeo urges key Afghan gathering to free Taliban prisoners</a>

As part of a February pact between the United States and the Taliban allowing for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, it was agreed that some 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released from Afghan jails as a condition for talks between the militants and the U.S.-backed government.

The government has released all but some 400 militants it says have been convicted of the worst crimes including killings, drug trafficking and kidnapping.

While many Afghans see the peace effort as the best hope for ending the 19-year war with the Taliban, some are concerned about the militants` commitment to reconciliation, especially after the United States completes its troop withdrawal.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-foreign-minister-says-pakistani-terror-groups-have-symbiotic-relations-with-al-qaeda-is-318709">Also read:&nbsp;Afghan foreign minister says Pakistani terror groups have symbiotic relations with Al Qaeda, IS</a>

U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, the architect of the deal allowing the United States to withdraw its forces and end its longest-ever war, warned against the Loya Jirga throwing up any complications.

"We wish the jirga participants success ... and urge them not to allow those who prefer the status quo and seek to complicate the path to peace to manipulate the process," Khalilzad said on Twitter. He did not elaborate. 
Afghanistan’s constitution recognises the Loya Jirga as "the highest manifestation of the will of the people of Afghanistan".

The head of its secretariat, Abdul Salam Rahimi, said its decision was necessary as President Ashraf Ghani was not empowered to release prisoners convicted of such serious crimes.

He said precautions would be taken to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Thousands of Afghan elders, community leaders and politicians gathered on Friday to debate government efforts to make peace with the Taliban, in particular the fate of 400 hard-core Taliban prisoners whose release could clear the way for talks. Some 3,200 people have been invited to the grand assembly, known as a Loya Jirga, in Kabul amid tight security to debate for at least three days and then advise the government on whether the prisoners should be freed. Also read: Pompeo urges key Afghan gathering to free Taliban prisoners As part of a February pact between the United States and the Taliban allowing for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, it was agreed that some 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released from Afghan jails as a condition for talks between the militants and the U.S.-backed government. The government has released all but some 400 militants it says have been convicted of the worst crimes including killings, drug trafficking and kidnapping. While many Afghans see the peace effort as the best hope for ending the 19-year war with the Taliban, some are concerned about the militants` commitment to reconciliation, especially after the United States completes its troop withdrawal. Also read: Afghan foreign minister says Pakistani terror groups have symbiotic relations with Al Qaeda, IS U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad, the architect of the deal allowing the United States to withdraw its forces and end its longest-ever war, warned against the Loya Jirga throwing up any complications. "We wish the jirga participants success ... and urge them not to allow those who prefer the status quo and seek to complicate the path to peace to manipulate the process," Khalilzad said on Twitter. He did not elaborate. Afghanistan’s constitution recognises the Loya Jirga as "the highest manifestation of the will of the people of Afghanistan". The head of its secretariat, Abdul Salam Rahimi, said its decision was necessary as President Ashraf Ghani was not empowered to release prisoners convicted of such serious crimes. He said precautions would be taken to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Afghan grand assembly gathers to decide fate of Taliban prisoners

Afghanistan will convene a grand assembly of elders, known as the loya jirga, in Kabul on Friday to decide the fate of hundreds of prisoners the Taliban insist should be released before entering peace talks with the government.

A pact reached by U.S. and Taliban negotiators in Doha in February had agreed that 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released from Afghan jails as a precondition to the militant movement holding talks with the government.

President Ashraf Ghani's government has released all but 400, saying their crimes were too grave.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="/videos/afghanistan-government-orders-release-of-500-taliban-inmates-317494" hreflang="en">Afghanistan government orders release of 500 Taliban inmates</a>

On Sunday, it declared a loya jirga, a traditional consultative gathering of elders, community leaders and politicians was needed to debate what to do with the remaining prisoners. And on Tuesday, the government fixed the date.

"These 400 are those who have been convicted in killings from two to 40 people, drug trafficking, those sentenced to death and involved in major crimes, including kidnapping," Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the president, said.

He said a loya jirga, regarded in the constitutional as the highest expression of the Afghan people, was required as the president was not empowered to release prisoners convicted of such crimes.

Held under a giant tent, the loya jirga is a centuries-old institution used to build consensus among competing tribes, factions and ethnic groups and to discuss matters of national importance, traditionally convened under extraordinary circumstances.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/south-asia/at-least-24-dead-in-mass-jailbreak-in-afghanistan-scores-of-prisoners-flee-317759" hreflang="en">At least 24 dead in mass jailbreak in Afghanistan, scores of prisoners flee</a>

On Sunday, as the government and Taliban were observing the last day of three-day ceasefire for Muslim Eid holidays, Islamic State militants launched a brazen attack at a prison in eastern Nangarhar province and freed hundreds of inmates.

The violence comes at a sensitive time for Afghanistan as the U.S. attempts to usher a peace deal between Afghan government and the Taliban to end 19-year-old war.&nbsp;

Since the U.S.-Taliban agreement in Febuary, 3,560 Afghan security forces personnel have been killed in attacks by militants, thousands more have been wounded, Ghani said last week.

In the same week, U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report that more than 1,280 Afghan civilians had been killed in the first six months of the year, mainly as a result of fighting between Afghan government forces and Taliban insurgents.&nbsp;

Afghanistan will convene a grand assembly of elders, known as the loya jirga, in Kabul on Friday to decide the fate of hundreds of prisoners the Taliban insist should be released before entering peace talks with the government.

Afghanistan will convene a grand assembly of elders, known as the loya jirga, in Kabul on Friday to decide the fate of hundreds of prisoners the Taliban insist should be released before entering peace talks with the government. A pact reached by U.S. and Taliban negotiators in Doha in February had agreed that 5,000 Taliban prisoners should be released from Afghan jails as a precondition to the militant movement holding talks with the government. President Ashraf Ghani's government has released all but 400, saying their crimes were too grave. Also see: Afghanistan government orders release of 500 Taliban inmates On Sunday, it declared a loya jirga, a traditional consultative gathering of elders, community leaders and politicians was needed to debate what to do with the remaining prisoners. And on Tuesday, the government fixed the date. "These 400 are those who have been convicted in killings from two to 40 people, drug trafficking, those sentenced to death and involved in major crimes, including kidnapping," Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the president, said. He said a loya jirga, regarded in the constitutional as the highest expression of the Afghan people, was required as the president was not empowered to release prisoners convicted of such crimes. Held under a giant tent, the loya jirga is a centuries-old institution used to build consensus among competing tribes, factions and ethnic groups and to discuss matters of national importance, traditionally convened under extraordinary circumstances. Also read: At least 24 dead in mass jailbreak in Afghanistan, scores of prisoners flee On Sunday, as the government and Taliban were observing the last day of three-day ceasefire for Muslim Eid holidays, Islamic State militants launched a brazen attack at a prison in eastern Nangarhar province and freed hundreds of inmates. The violence comes at a sensitive time for Afghanistan as the U.S. attempts to usher a peace deal between Afghan government and the Taliban to end 19-year-old war. Since the U.S.-Taliban agreement in Febuary, 3,560 Afghan security forces personnel have been killed in attacks by militants, thousands more have been wounded, Ghani said last week. In the same week, U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report that more than 1,280 Afghan civilians had been killed in the first six months of the year, mainly as a result of fighting between Afghan government forces and Taliban insurgents.

Afghan grand assembly to decide fate of Taliban prisoners on Friday

Taliban has submitted a fresh list of 592 prisoners after its earlier list was rejected by the Afghan government, TOLO news reported citing sources.

Till now, the government has released 4,019 prisoners and the Taliban has released 737 in exchange.

Earlier, the Afghan government had reportedly not released 597 of 5,000 listed prisoners, as part of the US-Taliban agreement, because they were not only affiliated with the Taliban but were also involved in serious "moral" crimes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-violence-pose-serious-challenges-to-afghan-peace-process-ghani-311350">Also read|&nbsp;Taliban violence pose 'serious challenges' to Afghan peace process: Ghani</a>

The report said the 21-member peace negotiating team is working in four groups as part of their preparations for talks with the Taliban.

However, the Taliban has said that they will not participate in the intra-Afghan talks unless the Afghan government releases its 5,000 prisoners.

The release of the Taliban prisoners is part of the US-Taliban deal signed in Doha in February, the report said.

Taliban has submitted a fresh list of 592 prisoners after its earlier list was rejected by the Afghan government, TOLO news reported citing sources. Till now, the government has released 4,019 prisoners and the Taliban has released 737 in exchange.

Taliban has submitted a fresh list of 592 prisoners after its earlier list was rejected by the Afghan government, TOLO news reported citing sources. Till now, the government has released 4,019 prisoners and the Taliban has released 737 in exchange. Earlier, the Afghan government had reportedly not released 597 of 5,000 listed prisoners, as part of the US-Taliban agreement, because they were not only affiliated with the Taliban but were also involved in serious "moral" crimes. Also read| Taliban violence pose 'serious challenges' to Afghan peace process: Ghani The report said the 21-member peace negotiating team is working in four groups as part of their preparations for talks with the Taliban. However, the Taliban has said that they will not participate in the intra-Afghan talks unless the Afghan government releases its 5,000 prisoners. The release of the Taliban prisoners is part of the US-Taliban deal signed in Doha in February, the report said.

Taliban submits fresh list of 592 prisoners for release to Afghan govt

The Afghan government said it was in the process of freeing 900 Taliban members from prison on Tuesday even as it urged the insurgent group to extend a three-day ceasefire set to end at midnight, according to news agency Reuters.

The Afghan government said it was in the process of freeing 900 Taliban members from prison on Tuesday even as it urged the insurgent group to extend a three-day ceasefire set to end at midnight, according to news agency Reuters. This is the biggest such release yet as part of a prisoner swap under a deal struck by the Taliban and the United States in Qatar in February. "For better management of the prisoner issue, it is important to extend the ceasefire," Javid Faisal, a spokesman for Afghanistan's national security adviser, told a news conference. The Taliban had announced a three-day ceasefire for the Eid al-Fitr holiday that ends the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, a move that was welcomed by both the Afghan and US governments. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, in a statement on Twitter, welcomed the release of 900 prisoners as "good progress" and said the group would in turn free a "remarkable number" of prisoners soon. However, he said nothing about extending the ceasefire, which was to expire at midnight (1930 GMT) Tuesday. Last month, the Taliban rejected a call by the Afghan government for a Ramadan ceasefire. Fighting between Taliban and Afghan forces had intensified before the ceasefire, and the government said it would resume an offensive against the militant group in the wake of its deadly attacks nationwide earlier this month. (With inputs from Reuters)

Afghanistan wants truce extension as it begins freeing 900 Taliban prisoners

Afghan authorities freed hundreds more Taliban prisoners on Tuesday, as calls grew for the militants to extend a ceasefire on its third and final day.

The historic pause in fighting, only the second in nearly 19 years of war, has mostly held across Afghanistan, providing a rare respite from the conflict's grinding violence.

Authorities said they had released about 900 Taliban prisoners across the country on Tuesday, approximately 600 of them from the notorious Bagram jail near Kabul.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-government-frees-2000-taliban-prisoners-during-ceasefire-301022" hreflang="en">Afghan government frees 2,000 Taliban prisoners during ceasefire</a>

The release is part of a pledge by the Afghan government to free up to 2,000 insurgent prisoners in response to the Taliban's three-day ceasefire offer, which began Sunday to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

Each former prisoner was given the equivalent of about $65 in Afghan currency. The buses they had boarded at the prison dropped them in Kabul, where they bid goodbyes to each other and took taxis to their homes.

The release of 900 prisoners marked "good progress," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter.

He added the group will free a "remarkable" number of Afghan security force personnel, but did not specify when.

Afghan authorities hoped the Taliban would extend the ceasefire so delayed peace talks with the insurgents could begin, National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal said.

Afghan authorities freed hundreds more Taliban prisoners on Tuesday, as calls grew for the militants to extend a ceasefire on its third and final day. The historic pause in fighting, only the second in nearly 19 years of war, has mostly held across Afghanistan, providing a rare respite from the conflict's grinding violence.

Afghan authorities freed hundreds more Taliban prisoners on Tuesday, as calls grew for the militants to extend a ceasefire on its third and final day. The historic pause in fighting, only the second in nearly 19 years of war, has mostly held across Afghanistan, providing a rare respite from the conflict's grinding violence. Authorities said they had released about 900 Taliban prisoners across the country on Tuesday, approximately 600 of them from the notorious Bagram jail near Kabul. Also read: Afghan government frees 2,000 Taliban prisoners during ceasefire The release is part of a pledge by the Afghan government to free up to 2,000 insurgent prisoners in response to the Taliban's three-day ceasefire offer, which began Sunday to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Each former prisoner was given the equivalent of about $65 in Afghan currency. The buses they had boarded at the prison dropped them in Kabul, where they bid goodbyes to each other and took taxis to their homes. The release of 900 prisoners marked "good progress," Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said on Twitter. He added the group will free a "remarkable" number of Afghan security force personnel, but did not specify when. Afghan authorities hoped the Taliban would extend the ceasefire so delayed peace talks with the insurgents could begin, National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal said.

Afghan government frees 900 Taliban prisoners on last day of truce

Plans for the Afghan government to begin releasing Taliban prisoners were stalled on Saturday over disagreements on the number of detainees to be released and guarantees that they will not return to fighting, a government security spokesman said.

The Taliban promised to open talks with the Afghan government as part of an accord reached with the United States last month to end 18 years of U.S. involvement in the war in Afghanistan.

The militants say the agreement requires the government to release 5,000 prisoners before talks begin. The government says the talks must begin and violence subsides before it will free all the detainees.

Earlier this week President Ashraf Ghani agreed to free 1,500 prisoners on Saturday with plans to release the remainder once conditions were met.

"We are ready to start the process the way it is described in the presidential decree but we won't release anyone if there is no guarantee that they will not return to fighting," said Javid Faisal, spokesman for the Afghan government's national security advisor. "The Taliban have to show flexibility "

The Taliban are refusing to accept a partial release of the prisoners or any conditions on their release, its spokesman told Reuters on Friday.

"Our stance on the prisoners' release is crystal clear. They should be released without any pre-condition the way it is mentioned on the US-Taliban peace agreement," Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters by phone. "We have not agreed to any extra dialogue or conditions."

Officials and experts say the issue poses a major hurdle to starting peace talks, alongside an additional challenge of rising discord between Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah.

Both men say they are the country's rightful leader. Their intense feuding is leading to the risk of parallel governments being formed and is hindering the appointment of a delegation to negotiate with the Taliban.

Plans for the Afghan government to begin releasing Taliban prisoners were stalled on Saturday over disagreements on the number of detainees to be released and guarantees that they will not return to fighting, a government security spokesman said.

Plans for the Afghan government to begin releasing Taliban prisoners were stalled on Saturday over disagreements on the number of detainees to be released and guarantees that they will not return to fighting, a government security spokesman said. The Taliban promised to open talks with the Afghan government as part of an accord reached with the United States last month to end 18 years of U.S. involvement in the war in Afghanistan. The militants say the agreement requires the government to release 5,000 prisoners before talks begin. The government says the talks must begin and violence subsides before it will free all the detainees. Earlier this week President Ashraf Ghani agreed to free 1,500 prisoners on Saturday with plans to release the remainder once conditions were met. "We are ready to start the process the way it is described in the presidential decree but we won't release anyone if there is no guarantee that they will not return to fighting," said Javid Faisal, spokesman for the Afghan government's national security advisor. "The Taliban have to show flexibility " The Taliban are refusing to accept a partial release of the prisoners or any conditions on their release, its spokesman told Reuters on Friday. "Our stance on the prisoners' release is crystal clear. They should be released without any pre-condition the way it is mentioned on the US-Taliban peace agreement," Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters by phone. "We have not agreed to any extra dialogue or conditions." Officials and experts say the issue poses a major hurdle to starting peace talks, alongside an additional challenge of rising discord between Ghani and his political rival Abdullah Abdullah. Both men say they are the country's rightful leader. Their intense feuding is leading to the risk of parallel governments being formed and is hindering the appointment of a delegation to negotiate with the Taliban.

Release of Taliban prisoners stalls over guarantees

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani has signed a decree to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners in order to begin intra-Afghan peace talks with the militant group that could see the end of the nearly two-decade war in the Middle Eastern country.

WION Dispatch: Ashraf Ghani agrees to release 5000 prisoners not 1500

Ashraf Ghani agrees to Taliban prisoners release

The much-hyped deal between the United States and the Taliban seems to be hitting roadblock after roadblock. President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani is against freeing thousands of Taliban prisoners ahead of power-sharing talks next week. Ghani has publicly disagreed with a time table for a speedy prisoner release. watch report:

US-Taliban peace deal hits first roadblock, Afghan Prez won't free Taliban prisoners