Taliban

The Taliban have also said they would guarantee the security of health and aid workers traveling to their areas.

The prisoner release is part of a peace deal signed last month by the Taliban and U.S.

Afghanistan's political turmoil has impeded each tentative step toward negotiations with the Taliban.

Since the signing of the deal, the peace process has stalled amid political turmoil in Afghanistan.

An Afghan government official said the releases were delayed because more time was needed to review the list of prisoners.

The four-star commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan made the stunning admission Tuesday.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani issued a decree Wednesday promising to release 1,500 Taliban prisoners as a goodwill gesture.

The U.S. has said its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan will be linked to the Taliban keeping their promises.

The peace deal calls for a comprehensive nationwide cease-fire to be negotiated in the intra-Afghan talks.

Col. Sonny Leggett said in a tweet that the “defensive” strike was the first U.S. attack against the militants in 11 days.