Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Sunday refused the Taliban’s demand for the release of 5,000 detainees within 10 days, saying no precondition was acceptable for initiating intra-Afghan talks.
“No commitment has been made for therelease of 5,000 prisoners. This could be included at the agenda of the talkswith the Taliban and if anyone released should not take arm against the peopleof Afghanistan,” Ghani told reporters at the Presidential Palace here, aday after the signing of the highly-anticipated US-Taliban peace deal in Dohaon Saturday.
Ghani was responding to seniorrepresentative at Taliban’s liaison office in Doha, Sher Mohammad AbasStanikzai remarks on Saturday that the “Kabul administration shouldrelease 5,000 inmates within 10 days” as a precondition for initiating intra-Afghandialogue, reports Xinhua news agency.
“The release of the Taliban detaineesis within the authority of the government of Afghanistan and not with the US,and we have no agreement with America in this field,” the Presidentfurther said.
Ghani also noted that his government wouldspare no effort to ensure the restoration of lasting peace in Afghanistan andsafeguard all the achievements and values including the rights of womenachieved over the past 18 years.
Following rounds of talks between the USand the Taliban, which lasted about 18 months, the two sides inked the thatrequired Washington to reduce its forces to 8,600 from the current13,000-strong force within 135 days of signing the deal.
The US and the allies would proportionallyreduce their military strength in Afghanistan if the Taliban comply with theagreement and reduce the violent to the level of ceasefire.
Ghani also expressed hope that theso-called reduction in violence should turned into ceasefire across the countryto pave the way for returning viable peace in Afghanistan.