Afghan peace deal hits first snag over prisoner releases

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s president stated Sunday that he won't free hundreds of Taliban prisoners forward of all-Afghan power-sharing talks set for next week, publicly disagreeing with a timetable for a speedy prisoner release laid out just a day earlier in a U.S.-Taliban peace settlement.

President Ashraf Ghani’s comments pointed to the primary hitch in implementing the delicate deal, which is aimed toward ending America’s longest conflict after greater than 18 years and getting rival Afghan factions to agree on their nation’s future.

Nonetheless, the U.S. has stated a deliberate U.S. troop withdrawal over the subsequent 14 months is linked to the Taliban’s counter-terrorism efficiency, to not progress in intra-Afghan talks.

Washington’s Peace Envoy, Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as America’s first ambassador to Afghanistan after the 2001 U.S. invasion, spent the previous 17 months operating on-again, off-again talks with the Taliban to hammer out the agreement.

The U.S.-Taliban deal signed Saturday within the Middle Japanese State of Qatar envisions the release of up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners by the Afghan government ahead of talks between Afghan factions meant to start March 10 in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The Taliban would release up to 1,000 prisoners.

Ghani advised a information convention in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Sunday that this wasn’t a promise america might make. He stated the discharge of any prisoners was a choice for his government to take and that he wasn’t ready to launch prisoners before the start of negotiations.

“The request has been made by the USA for the launch of prisoners and it may be a part of the negotiations nevertheless it cannot be a precondition,” Ghani stated.

The U.S.-Taliban deal is seen as a historic alternative to extricate america from Afghanistan, a nation convulsed by battle because the Soviet invasion in December 1979. Yet it might also unravel shortly, notably if the Taliban fail to ship on a promise that no terror assaults can be launched from Afghan soil.

The intra-Afghan talks between squabbling political factions and rival Taliban in Afghanistan are even more intricate — even if a potential failure won't sluggish the withdrawal of American forces.

In an interview with The Related Press, Qatari Overseas Minister Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated he thought-about a prisoner change an necessary confidence-building measure.

“All the things is interconnected,” he stated Sunday concerning the settlement’s 14-month timeframe.

“The prisoner trade will probably be one of the first confidence-building measures, so it's going to stay a very important step that we have to push forward,” he added.

U.S. officers, travelling with Secretary of State Pompeo on his return to America, famous that the agreement stipulates “up to” 5,000 prisoners can be released, with out referring specifically to Ghani’s statements.

President Donald Trump advised reporters Saturday at the White House that he shall be “meeting personally with Taliban leaders in the not-too-distant future,” and described the group as “drained of conflict.”

He didn't say the place or why he plans to satisfy with Taliban leaders. He stated he thinks they're critical concerning the deal they signed but warned that if it fails, the U.S. might restart fight.

“We expect we’ll achieve success in the long run,” he stated, referring to all-Afghan peace talks and a remaining U.S. exit.

But he additionally warned: “If dangerous things happen, we’ll return” in with army firepower.

Many Afghans, nevertheless, have welcomed the potential of peace.

Afghans in japanese Nangarhar posted footage of dozens of men dancing in the street to rejoice the signing. In japanese Khost province, a Taliban stronghold, the night time sky was alight with pink tracer bullets fired by celebrating residents. Footballers in southern Helmand Province, additionally a Taliban stronghold that has seen heavy violence, started a three-day soccer event to have fun the signing.

Src: Afghan peace deal hits first snag over prisoner releases
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