US-Afgan Peace Deal: President Ghani rejects prisoner swap with Taliban

KABUL: President of Islamic Republic Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani rejected a key component of US-Taliban peace deal that calls for the swap of thousands of insurgent prisoners with Taliban.

According to the details, Ghani objected to arrangements within the deal that would see the Afghan government release 5,000 Taliban prisoners as a condition for direct talks between the armed group and the government.

The sources said that Ghani told a press conference, “The reduction in violence will continue with a goal to reach a full ceasefire.”

“General (Scott) Miller has told Taliban to do so. It is expected (to continue),” he added, referring to the US commander in charge of foreign forces in Afghanistan.

The agreement spells out a withdrawal timeline of 14 months for all foreign forces, provided the Taliban honour several pledges and enter talks with Kabul for a more comprehensive peace deal.

“Everyone is tired of war” says Trump after Afghan peace deal

Earlier on February 29, United States of America and the Afghan Taliban signed the peace deal in Qatar – the capital city of Doha after a long spell of negotiations, here on Saturday.

According to the details, Taliban deputy leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad inked the deal in an opulent hall in a five-star hotel in Dohar, Qatar.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Quraishi attended the ceremony on special invitation. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo witnessed the signing

A peace deal between warring parties comes after Washington had announced a “reduction in violence” (RIV) deal, which has largely held.