Afghanistan: The release of the last 400 Taliban prisoners has opened the door to inter-Afghan talks

 The Afghan government has begun the process of releasing the last 400 Taliban fighters held captive, removing a major obstacle to long-stalled inter-Afghan peace talks.  According to officials, 80 Taliban prisoners were released on Thursday on charges of attacking Afghan and foreign nationals. The release was one of the key conditions for the start of inter-Afghan talks to end the country's 19-year-old conflict. Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are likely to begin in Qatar as soon as the release of prisoners is completed.  The Afghan National Security Council (ANSC) said in a tweet that the release was made "to facilitate indirect negotiations and a lasting nationwide ceasefire."  Last weekend, the Afghan Loya Jirga approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners accused of involvement in "major crimes." Authorities initially refused to release him.  The detainees include about 44 militants who are of concern to the United States and other countries over their involvement in major crimes.  According to AFP, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani warned on Thursday that his release was a "threat" to the world.   "Before this issue, there was agreement on the desire for peace, but not at the cost of it," he added. Just two days after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ordered the release of Taliban prisoners, the Afghan Taliban claimed yesterday that Afghan officials and the country's spy agency, the so-called Islamic State, we're working with their released comrades. Want to target

A statement issued by Afghan Taliban spokesman Sohail Shaheen said the lives of prisoners released from the Pul-e-Charkhi prison were in danger. According to the statement, the Kabul administration and intelligence agencies, along with military personnel and so-called Islamic State militants, are planning to attack the vehicles in which Taliban prisoners are being taken after their release from prison. It may be recalled that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday night signed an order for the release of 400 Taliban prisoners in different jails in Afghanistan. It was hoped that the move would remove the biggest obstacle to inter-Afghan talks. The Taliban was ousted in 2001 by a US-led invasion of Afghanistan. The group has gradually regained its strength and has been managing much of the territory since 2001.

The deal was aimed at paving the way for talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. Earlier, the Taliban agreed to talk only with the United States. Negotiations between the United States and the Taliban agreed that 5,000 Taliban prisoners would be released before the Taliban negotiated with the Afghan government. Thousands of prisoners were released, but 400 remained in prison. According to AFP, 150 of them are still awaiting execution. It may be recalled that some time ago, the United States had announced that it would reduce the number of its troops in Afghanistan to 5,000 by November.