By Anisa Shaheed in TOLO News, 10 Nov, 2020 at 8:44 PM
The Afghan government on Tuesday accused the Taliban of breaking their promises in the peace process, saying the group in defiance with their commitments have “redeployed” most of their released prisoners to the battlefields.
The Afghan government released at least 6,000 Taliban prisoners as part of efforts to start peace negotiations with the group.
“Many of them have returned to the battlefields,” a presidential spokesman Dawa Khan Menapal said. “They (Taliban prisoners) were encouraged to return. The Afghan government strongly condemns this approach of the Taliban and calls it a violation of their commitments.”
“They (Taliban) exploited the name of peace. Most of them returned to the battlefields,” Afghan Army Chief Gen. Yasin Zia said.
In Faryab province, the local administration has said that 57 Taliban prisoners who were released for peace efforts have rejoined the group on the battlefields.
“I can say it for sure that they (released prisoners) are actively fighting in the ranks of Taliban,” Farah governor Taj Mohammad Jahid said.
According to the Defense Ministry, violence has extended to 26 provinces out of 34 provinces.
“Most of the attacks in the western zone were carried out by those released from government prisoners,” said Abdul Rauf Arghandiwal, a commander of 207 Zafar Army Corps.
“Their release was made in a hasty manner. Most of them have returned to battlefields and some have been arrested,” said Daud Katawazai, a political analyst.
The Taliban has rejected return of their prisoners to the battlefields and have accused the government of raiding the released inmates.
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-167667
