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Taliban deny claims that freed prisoners have returned to battlefield

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(Last Updated On: February 8, 2021)

Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem on Monday dismissed claims that 85 percent of the Taliban prisoners freed last year have returned to the battlefield. 

“These remarks are not true … Kabul administration always make such remarks,” said Naeem, adding that some of the former inmates have been re-arrested without having committed crimes. 
 
This comes after First Vice President Amrullah Saleh said on Sunday that 85 percent of the over 5,500 Taliban prisoners freed in accordance with the US-Taliban agreement last year had returned to the battlefield. 
 
Saleh also said that many of them had been rearrested or killed by Afghan forces during clashes. 
 
“The issue is verified not only by the Afghan forces but international partners also verified it. Video and audio clips also reveal that they started their activities again,” said Zabiullah Adel, an official in Saleh’s office.
 
Meanwhile, sources at the Ministry of Defense (MoD) also said that many of the freed prisoners had returned to the battlefield. 
 
“It is clear that Taliban (fighters) returned to the battlefield again; their numbers need to be investigated. It is clear that they want war in Afghanistan,” said Sarwar Naizai, a political analyst.
 
“The end of war is not like this, one day one person is released and the next day he is arrested again. This issue forces other Taliban to join the battlefield again,” said Sayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban member.
 
In February last year the US signed a deal with the Taliban on the withdrawal of troops. The Afghan government was not party to the agreement but was required to release over 5,500 Taliban prisoners in exchange for a reduction in violence on the Taliban’s part and the start of peace talks. 
 
Government released the prisoners, however there has been no reduction in violence and the peace talks in Doha have all but stalled after the Taliban failed to return to the talks tables after a three week break over December. 

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More than 800 Afghan refugees deported from Pakistan in two days

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(Last Updated On: April 20, 2024)

As many as 837 Afghan refugees have been forced to return to their country through Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings in the last two days, officials announced on Saturday.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said in a statement that 90 families comprising 468 people returned through Torkham crossing.

Another 67 families comprising 369 people returned through Spin Boldak crossing, it said.

The returnees have been introduced to international organizations to receive aid, and the Islamic Emirate has also paid 10,000 Afghanis to each family.

Pakistani government launched the second phase of deporting illegal refugees five days ago.

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Iran executes four Afghan prisoners

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(Last Updated On: April 20, 2024)

Iran executed four Afghan prisoners in Vakliabad Prison in Mashhad on Thursday morning, a human rights group reported.

Haalvsh said that the individuals had been arrested in 1398 over drug-related charges and then sentenced to death by the court.

This organization announced the names of the executed prisoners as Zaman Taheri, Salam Taheri, Gholam Qadir Samani and Ebrahim Noorzahi.

Zaman Taheri and Salam Taheri were brothers.

Iranian officials have not commented about the matter so far.

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Roof collapse kills two in Helmand

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(Last Updated On: April 20, 2024)

Two people were killed after roof of their house collapsed in southern Helmand province on Friday night, officials said.

Abdul Bari Rashid, head of information and culture in Helmand, told Ariana News that the incident occurred in Tajkan village of Gershak district due to heavy rain.

According to him, the dead include a woman and a child. A man was injured in the incident.

This comes as 10 people have died and six others have been injured as a result of the floods in Helmand province in the last one week.

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