The large Afghan Loya Jirga council today approved the release of 400 Taliban. That should enable the beginning of peace talks and the end of the bloodshed, the assembly justified its decision.
In February, the United States and the Taliban reached an agreement that would allow the withdrawal of US troops. It was agreed that around 5,000 Taliban fighters would be released from Afghan prisons as a prerequisite for talks between the Islamists and the US-backed government in Kabul. The government has released all but about 400 extremists who are charged with the most serious crimes. According to information from Western diplomats, the peace talks are due to begin soon in Doha.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani convened the meeting in the capital, Kabul. Around 3,200 tribal elders, spiritual and political leaders and municipal delegates from all provinces of the country in the Hindu Kush were invited.
The conflict recently continued brutally in the country. Although the Taliban had not killed any international soldiers since the agreement they signed with the United States in February, they stepped up their fight against the Afghan armed forces.
USA wants to withdraw thousands of soldiers
The US wants to reduce its troop strength in Afghanistan to below 5,000 by the end of November. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in an interview with Fox News.
The USA currently has around 8,600 soldiers in the civil war country. US President Donald Trump recently said that he wanted to reduce the troop strength to around 4,000.
