The exchange — both government and Taliban officials said Tuesday that the transfer was imminent — would be a major step toward reopening peace talks between the United States and the insurgents. And some Afghan officials held out hope that the release would make the Taliban more likely to agree to an eventual truce. Taliban officials in the group’s leadership council said Tuesday that pending the actual exchange, more releases could soon follow from both sides. Trump has made freeing American hostages a priority. Another American held hostage, Caitlan Coleman, and her family were rescued by the Pakistani military in October 2017.

Source: bd News24 November 13, 2019 03:07 UTC