US welcomes development in Afghan peace process

The United States on Monday welcomed the latest development in the Afghan peace process, following the Taliban and the Afghan government released some of the prisoners held in each other's captivity.

The US Special Representative for Afghanistan's Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, welcomed the development, describing it as an important step in the peace process.

"Welcome the release of prisoners by both the Afghan government and the Taliban. The release of prisoners is an important step in the peace process and the reduction of violence," Khalilzad tweeted.

He emphasised that both sides should accelerate efforts to meet targets specified in the US-Taliban agreement as soon as possible.

"The potential for COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons poses a real threat and all the more reason to move urgently," he added.

Earlier on Sunday, Taliban released 20 prisoners of the Afghan government who were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Kandahar. The Afghan government has so far released more than 300 Taliban prisoners.

As per the US-Taliban peace deal signed on February 29, 2020, the Afghan government would release 5,000 Taliban prisoners, while the armed group would free 1,000 Afghan prisoners of the Kabul administration prior to the start of intra-Afghan negotiations.