Key Taliban prisoners released after delay

KABUL, Afghanistan

Multiple official sources in Afghanistan confirmed on Tuesday the release of three key Taliban detainees amid a prisoner swap for two captive foreign teachers abducted from Kabul in 2016.

Though the Afghan government, Taliban or U.S. have yet to publicly acknowledged the release of Anas Haqqani, the son of armed Haqqani network founder Jalaluddin Haqqani, and the two other Taliban figures Hafiz Abd Rashid and Mali Khan, but official sources told Anadolu Agency the three have been moved to Qatar from the Bagram Prison in Afghanistan.

The officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly, said the swap deal, which was halted last week due to terrorist attacks in Kabul and Logar, went ahead with the release of the three men amid the Taliban’s assurances to comply by the terms of the deal.

The local Tolo News broadcaster reported that the two foreign teachers were released by the Taliban in Zabul province.

In a major security development, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani last week confirmed the release of key Taliban leader, Anas Haqqani. In a televised address to the nation, Ghani said the government would conditionally release Haqqani in exchange for the release of two foreign lecturers of the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF).

American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks were teaching at the university in Kabul before they were seized at gunpoint in Kabul in August 2016.

The Haqqani Network is an offs-hoot of the Taliban, wielding significant clout in the insurgency entering its 19th year.

Separately, Ghani discussed the peace process and prison swap with U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien over the phone, an official statement said Tuesday.

"Both sides agreed that a ceasefire and/or reduction in violence was a necessary pre-condition for kick-starting intra-Afghan negotiations to reach a political settlement," the statement said.

Owing to the evident sensitivity of the situation, the Taliban’s Qatar office spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, was quick to deny involvement in a hand-grenade attack on an Afghan army training facility in Kabul on Monday.

The AUAF welcomed the news of the release of King and Weeks.

"The AUAF community shares the relief of the families of Kevin and Timothy, and we look forward to providing all the support we can to Kevin and Tim and their families.

We wish to extend our gratitude to all involved in the release of our colleagues", it said in a statement

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also lauded the move, saying on Twitter that Islamabad "fully supported" and facilitated the release of King and Weeks.

"We hope this step gives a boost of confidence to all parties involved to re-engage in the peace process. Pakistan remains committed to facilitating this peace process," he added.