Prior to this, the Afghan government had freed at least 80 prisoners of the Taliban out of the total 400 prisoners who were said to be behind high-profile attacks.
The release of prisoners came after the Afghan consultative Loya Jirga, or the grand assembly, in a 25-article resolution approved the release of the remaining 400 hard-core inmates of the Taliban which was believed to be the last obstacle to begin intra-Afghan talks.
After release of 80 prisoners of the group, the process was once again stalled as the Afghan government reversed a decision to release the final batch of 320 Taliban prisoners it is holding until the insurgents free more captured soldiers.
However, Hashmatullah Nateq head of media relations at the Office of National Security Council (ONSC) said at least 103 Taliban prisoners were released last night from Kabul-based Pul-e-Charkhi jail.
According to Mr. Nateq, the process of prisoner releases will soon be finalized and talks will begin.
The chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, and the acting minister of the Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Hanif Atmar, also said earlier the long-awaited intra-Afghan talks with the Taliban is likely to begin this week.
Under a peace deal signed between the United States and the Taliban, the Afghan government was set to release 5,000 Taliban inmates while the insurgents to free 1,000 captives of the government before the intra-Afghan negotiations begin.
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