Afghanistan to free 900 Taliban, urges ceasefire extension
Nine hundred Taliban prisoners are being released by government of Afghanistan on Tuesday (May 27) but they come with a request for an extension to the fragile ceasefire, which is also due to end the same day.
The Taliban announced the three-day ceasefire to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid that ends the holy month of Ramadan. It had been due to expire at midnight.
The release is part of a prisoner swap under a deal struck by the Taliban and the United States in February.
The hope is to instigate peace talks between the Islamist militants and an Afghan delegation aiming to end a two-decade-old war.
Afghanistan's national security adviser, told a news conference that the request for a ceasefire extension was key to avoiding further bloodshed.
Fighting between the Taliban and Afghan forces has intensified before the ceasefire, and the government previously said it would resume an offensive against the militant group in the wake of its deadly attacks nationwide this month.
