Among Remaining 400 Taliban Prisoners, 56 Sentenced to Death: Presidential Spokesman

Another 156 of the group’s prisoners were involved in drug trafficking, Mr. Sediqqi said.

Those 400 Taliban prisoners’ crimes were too grave; therefore, Afghan President announced he had no authority to release them, said the presidential spokesman. President Ghani then called a Loya Jirga to decide over the fate of a final group of Taliban.

Following the approval of Loya Jirga for the release of those Taliban inmates with high-profile attacks, Afghan President signed a decree on August 10, ordering the release of a final batch of Taliban prisoners which was a last obstacle to begin intra-Afghan talks.

Earlier on Sunday, the Afghan consultative Loya Jirga, or the grand assembly of elders and leaders, in a 25-article resolution approved the release of the remaining 400 prisoners who were said to be the “hard-core” inmates of the Taliban.

“To remove the last sticking point [on the way to ending the longest-running war of the country], allow the start of the peace process and an end of bloodshed, the Loya Jirga approves the release of 400 Taliban,” the grand assembly (Loya Jirga) said in a resolution released Sunday, August 09.