Afghan peace talks near as Taliban prisoners’ release approved

The head of Kabul’s peace council reported that the Afghan government and the Taliban are “on the verge of peace talks” after thousands of prominent Afghans approved the release militant prisoners.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

Thousands of prominent Afghans approved the release of about 400 contentious militant prisoners. The resolution was passed at the end of a three-day ‘Loya Jirga.’

A loya jirga is a special type of jirga, or legal assembly, in Pashtunwali, the traditional code of laws of the Pashtun people.

It is mainly organized for choosing a new head of state in case of sudden death, adopting a new constitution, or to settle national or regional issue such as war.

In Afghanistan, loya jirgas have been reportedly organized since at least the early 18th century when the Hotaki and Durrani dynasties rose to power.