Government, Taliban swap prisoners
04 September, 2012
JALALABAD: Afghan authorities freed four Taliban detainees including a commander in exchange for five police held by Taliban in Hisarak district of eastern Ningarhar province, they said Monday.
Abdul Khaliq, administrator of Hisarak, confirmed to Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that they released four Taliban in exchange for five police.
"We captured a commander, Angar, along with four Taliban sometimes back. Similarly, there were five police in the detention of Taliban. A deal was brokered with Taliban following the mediation of local elders and notables.
We free Taliban at 10:30 a.m. (local time) while Taliban also released five police," he said without giving further details of the dead. Earlier, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AIP that "Five police were released in exchange for four key Mujahideen of Islamic Emirate in Hisarak district."
On July 18, gunmen seized five soldiers including three officers in Hisarak district. Taliban, however, had said the policemen defected to Taliban.
End.
|
