Iran Press/ Asia: In a news conference in Kabul, the president of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani said that his country does not uphold any precondition for starting negotiations between Afghan factions and the Taliban.
"Releasing Taliban prisoners should be discussed during the inter-Afghan talks," Ghani stressed, adding that: "The US does not have the right to interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs, they just facilitate the negotiations."
"The reduction in violence will continue with a goal to reach a full cease-fire," Ghani told reporters, referring to a seven-day partial reduction in violence in Afghanistan.
His remarks come against the backdrop of the difficulties US negotiators face in shepherding the Afghan government and Taliban towards Intra- Afghan negotiations, according to Western diplomats.
The accord said the US and the Taliban were committed to working expeditiously to release combat and political prisoners as a confidence-building measure, with the coordination and approval of all relevant sides.
It said that up to 5,000 jailed Taliban prisoners would be released in exchange for up to 1,000 Afghan government captives by March 10; however, on the issue of the prisoner swap, Ghani said: “It is not in the authority of United States to decide, they are only a facilitator.”
Rejecting criticism around the deal, the US President Donald Trump and said he would meet Taliban leaders in the near future. 212/ 104
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