The U.S. envoy for Afghan peace Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad reacted to the declaration released by members of the consultative Loya Jirga (grand assembly of tribal elders) for the release of the remaining 400 Taliban prisoners.
“We welcome the Afghan Loya Jirga’s declaration and President Ghani’s decision to sign the decree ordering the release of the remaining prisoners,” Khalilzad said in a statement released on Twitter.
Khalilzad further added “With these bold steps, after 40 years of war, a historic opportunity for peace is now possible; one that benefits all Afghans and contributes to regional stability and global security.”
He also added “In the next few days, we expect the completion of prisoner releases, then travel of the Islamic Republic team to Doha, & from there the immediate start of intra-Afghan negotiations.”
“The parties will embark on a process to reach an agreement on a political roadmap & a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire to end the Afghan war,” he said.
“As we have supported the Afghan people for the past 19 years, so do we now support Afghan men and women to achieve the sustainable peace for which they have long yearned,” Ambassador Khalilzad said, adding that “The United States seeks a sovereign, unified, and democratic Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors and does not pose a threat to the world. Today, we are one step closer.”
The consultative Loya Jirga kicked off on 7th of August and concluded on 9th with participants approving the release of the remaining 400 Taliban prisoners who are deemed as major criminals.
