Afghanistan announced on Tuesday it released 900 more Taliban prisoners from its detention centers.

National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal told a press conference that the prisoners were freed aimed to immediately kick start intra-Afghan talks.

“In accordance with the decree of the president of the Islamic republic of Afghanistan, 1,000 Taliban prisoners were freed before Eid al- Fitr. 100 Taliban inmates were released from Bagram on Monday. 900 more are going to be released today from Pul-e Charkhi, Bagram and other detention centers,” he added.

The Afghan government has also urged the Taliban to extend the three-day ceasefire which is due to expire at midnight on Tuesday.

“We demand the Taliban to extend the three-day ceasefire. This will allow our people breath comfortably as well as paves the ground for direct intra-Afghan talks,” he added.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has urged both the Taliban and the Afghan government to observe the truce after Eid holidays.

“The independent human rights commission of Afghanistan calls for extension and continuation of the ceasefire and urges both sides to start the intra-Afghan negotiations as quick as possible and put an end to Afghanistan’s problems through rational and fair dialogues”, deputy head of the commission, Naeem Nazari, told Arezo News.

Russian foreign ministry has also welcomed a three-day ceasefire announced by the Taliban and the Afghan government, and expressed hope over the start of intra-Afghan talks.

Arezo News – Salimi