Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will issue a decree for at least 1,000 Taliban prisoners to be released this week, Reuters reported on Monday.
Earlier, during his inauguration speech, Ghani on Monday announced that he will issue a decree on prisoner release on Tuesday.
Under the deal between the United States and the Taliban, 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 held by the group are expected be released as confidence building measure before intra-Afghan talks begin.
Ghani had previously rejected the demand as a condition for talks. Reuters citing five official sources said that Ghani agreed to release the prisoners in order to secure US and other international endorsement for his inauguration as president.
According to the report, Ghani would announce on Tuesday he was releasing around 1,000 prisoners, with the elderly and those nearing the end of their sentences prioritized.
A senior Afghan security official told Reuters that Ghani will release Taliban prisoners who are above the age of 52 to prove that he is willing to start talks with the Taliban.
“Young Taliban prisoners will not be released at this stage – the (release) numbers may vary between 1,000 to 1,800,” said a senior Afghan security official.
