Release of three high-profile Taliban prisoners was delayed due to attacks that happened on the day the plan was announced and the next day, US ambassador John Bass suggested on Sunday.
Afghan president Ashraf Ghani said on Tuesday the government would release Anas Haqqani, a leader of the Taliban’s Haqqani militant faction, and two other commanders in exchange for two American University of Afghanistan professors, American Kevin King and Australian Timothy Weeks. He also hoped that their release would facilitate direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban for peace.
On Saturday, the government said that the swap was delayed because of Taliban’s failure to meet the conditions.
On the same day the prisoner release announcement was made, a blast targeted a foreign military convoy in Logar and the next day a car bombing targeted a private security company’s convoy in Kabul that killed 12 people including children.
“We supported President Ghani’s announcement to release three Taliban prisoners to promote peace – and the decision to reassess their pending transfer following the attacks in Logar and Kabul on November 12 and 13,” US envoy Bass said on Twitter.
“Making peace means making hard choices, but it also requires careful review of the conditions on the ground. As strategic partners, we will continue to work closely with the Afghan government on next steps,” he added.