Taliban Says Prisoner Swap Delayed As Taliban-Affiliated Militants Not Released
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published November 15, 2019 | 12:00 AM
KABUL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th November, 2019) The exchange of prisoners with the Afghan government has been delayed as the Taliban refuses to hand over the Western hostages while their affiliates remain captive, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Sputnik Thursday.
The Afghan government previously announced it would release one of the senior leaders of the Haqqani insurgent group, Anas Haqqani, as well as key Taliban commanders Hafiz Rashid and Mali Khan, in exchange for US and Australian academics, who were kidnapped in 2016.
"Since the three detainees had not been transferred to the designated location, we have not allowed the release of the two foreign lecturers," Mujahid said.
Another Taliban source told Sputnik that the Haqqani network prisoners were flown to Qatar, where they were set to be handed over to the Qatar authorities on command, but since the exchange was put on hold, they were returned to the Bagram prison in Afghanistan.
US national Kevin King and Australian national Timothy Weeks were kidnapped by the Taliban in 2016 in Kabul, where they worked at the American University.
Releasing Haqqani was something that the Afghan president formerly pledged to never do. Anas Haqqani was arrested in 2014 and is the youngest son of Jalaluddin Haqqani, founder of the Haqqani militant network operating under the Taliban's umbrella.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From World
-
Togo lawmakers approve contested political reform
5 hours ago -
NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies': Zelensky
5 hours ago -
US House to vote on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid package
5 hours ago -
Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
5 hours ago -
IMF calls on EU to deepen single market integration to boost growth
5 hours ago -
Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
5 hours ago
-
Oil, gas drilling blocked in Alaska wilds as Biden seeks green cred
6 hours ago -
Man sets self on fire outside Trump trial
6 hours ago -
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
8 hours ago -
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
8 hours ago -
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
8 hours ago -
Ecuador mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
8 hours ago