Afghan President Opposes Aspect of US–Taliban Peace Deal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani speaks during a news conference at the presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 1, 2020. Rahmat Gul/AP Photo

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said March 1 that he won’t free thousands of Taliban prisoners ahead of all-Afghan peace talks, aiming at a provision outlined in the recently signed U.S.–Taliban deal.

The Taliban later said it wouldn’t take part in the intra-Afghan talks unless the prisoners were released.