Afghanistan to move to Qatar seven prisoners sought by Taliban

Handout photograph taken on August 13, 2020 and released by Afghanistan's National Security Council, NSC, Taliban prisoners walk as they are in the process of being released from Pul-e-Charkhi prison on the outskirts of Kabul. (File/AFP)

• An Afghan official said the captives would be freed soon

KABUL: Afghanistan will transfer to Qatar seven prisoners whose release has been demanded by the Taliban ahead of peace talks set to start this week, officials of both warring sides, as well as Western diplomats, said on Thursday.
An Afghan official said the captives would be freed soon, although the government had not wanted to release them on the grounds that they were guilty of killing foreign soldiers.
“They will be shifted to Doha,” he said, adding that top Afghan officials were set to travel to the capital of the Gulf state this week for the talks.