Taliban Rejects Taking Part in Afghan Talks Until Prisoners Freed

Taliban militants will not take part in intra-Afghan talks until the Afghan government releases about 5,000 of their prisoners, a spokesman said on Monday, presenting a major possible barrier to ending the war.

The statement came as a reduction in violence period came to an end, and the Taliban said a resumption of operations against Afghan government forces could now take place.

Under an accord between the United States and the Taliban signed on Saturday, the two sides are committed to working toward the release of combat and political prisoners as a confidence-building measure.

The agreement calls for up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners to be freed in exchange for up to 1,000 Afghan government captives by March 10. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, not involved in the talks, has rejected that demand, claiming that its government has not made any commitment to release 5,000 Taliban prisoners before the start of any potential negotiation. 

However, the Taliban insisted that there will be no intra-Afghan talks until the release.

The United States has said that after more than 18 years of war, it hopes negotiations toward a permanent political settlement and ceasefire can start in coming days, but Western diplomats and analysts see stark challenges ahead.

Since the deal on a reduction in violence in the seven days leading up to Saturday’s pact had formally ended, the Taliban technically could attack Afghan forces. But U.S. General Scott Miller, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, said that the United States expected the Taliban to “be very serious” about their obligations, saying the reduction in violence was a confidence builder and the U.S.expects the violence in Afghanistan must remain low.

However, the Taliban had called the end of the temporary truce on Monday and fighting broke out in at least in two districts in the southern province of Kandahar. Five posts of government forces in Panjwahi and Maiwand were under attack, according to local police chief Sultan Mohammad Hakimi.

Besides, an explosion at a football field in Afghanistan’s southeastern province of Khost killed at least three civilians and injured 11 on Monday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility and the Taliban issued a statement denying any involvement.

The Afghan war has been in stalemate for more than 18 years since U.S.-led forces ousted the hardline Islamist militants from power in 2001, with Taliban forces controlling or contesting more territory yet unable to capture and hold major urban centers.

A full withdrawal of all U.S. and coalition forces would occur within 14 months, a joint statement said. The withdrawal depends on security guarantees by the Taliban~ Afghan Voice Agency( AVA)

The Lessons of War:Survival Classes Introduced in Ukraine’s Schools

In order to educate students lifetime lessons on survival and patriotism, Ukrainian schools have introduced a new subject called “Defense of Ukraine,” which includes first aid, drone operation, and weapons safety handling.

Read More

Cybercrime in Nigeria:Inside a “hustle kingdom”

In West Africa, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria, there is a rise in informal academies known as “hustle kingdoms,” where young people are trained how to carry out online frauds.

Read More

Weather Damage and Arson Attacks Are Challenges US Election Officials Facing

Election officials in the Pacific Northwest states of Washington and Oregon, where ballot box arson has raised concerns, and in the hurricane-damaged parts of North Carolina state are facing additional challenges as voting gets underway in a tightly-contested U.S. presidential election.

Read More

UN Security Council Meets on Threats to International Peace and Security

Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the High Representative of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, briefs the UN Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.

Read More

US Political History:Some of the Most Bizarre Moments

The turn up to the 2024 United States presidential election has been full of twists and turns,but believe it or not,some of the most bizarre events in American election history have happened. America has seen everything, from imprisoned politicians to election chaos.

Read More

UN Security Council Hears Report on United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo

Marko Đurić, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, addresses the United Nations Security Council meeting that heard a report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Read More

As Aid Access Blocked,Community Soup Kitchens Feed Sudan’s Starving

With little help from the international community, those in need are being fed by community-funded soup kitchens in war-torn Omdurman, the most populated city in Sudan. As one part of Sudan faces famine for the first time in seven years, the United States and other countries have urged the warring sides to grant humanitarian organizations unfettered access.

Read More

Are Religious Groups in Bangladesh Gaining Power?

Since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, religious parties in Bangladesh have active in national politics.VOA’s Sarah Zaman reports from the capital, Dhaka, on their impact.

Read More

Subscribe Our You Tube Channel

Fighting Fake News

Fighting Lies

For More