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AFP
Kabul
Afghan government representatives have met with the Taliban in Kabul for the first time to discuss a prisoner swap aimed at jump-starting a floundering peace process, officials said on Wednesday.
The two sides met on Tuesday and again for several hours Wednesday in talks being observed by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Afghanistan’s Office of the National Security Council said on Twitter.
“The two sides held face-to-face negotiations about the release of Afghan National Defense and Security Force personnel as well as Taliban prisoners,” the security council said.
It was the first time the hardline Islamists had been invited to the Afghan capital to meet directly with government officials since they were toppled in the US-led invasion of 2001.
The two sides had spoken previously in a videoconference to discuss the prisoner issue.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP that a “technical team” was in Kabul purely to facilitate the prisoner swap, and not for additional negotiations.
“The prisoners to be released should be those whose names are on the list... that is why our technical team is there... it is not a negotiation, and there will be no political talks there”, Mujahid said.
If the two sides can reach an agreement, the release would begin Saturday, the source said.
Kabul
Afghan government representatives have met with the Taliban in Kabul for the first time to discuss a prisoner swap aimed at jump-starting a floundering peace process, officials said on Wednesday.
The two sides met on Tuesday and again for several hours Wednesday in talks being observed by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Afghanistan’s Office of the National Security Council said on Twitter.
“The two sides held face-to-face negotiations about the release of Afghan National Defense and Security Force personnel as well as Taliban prisoners,” the security council said.
It was the first time the hardline Islamists had been invited to the Afghan capital to meet directly with government officials since they were toppled in the US-led invasion of 2001.
The two sides had spoken previously in a videoconference to discuss the prisoner issue.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP that a “technical team” was in Kabul purely to facilitate the prisoner swap, and not for additional negotiations.
“The prisoners to be released should be those whose names are on the list... that is why our technical team is there... it is not a negotiation, and there will be no political talks there”, Mujahid said.
If the two sides can reach an agreement, the release would begin Saturday, the source said.
