Afghanistan has begun its first face-to-face talks with the Taliban on exchanging thousands of prisoners.
Details of the initial meeting in Kabul emerged on Wednesday, ahead of a planned second day of talks, as Afghans observed tight restrictions on movement because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Under a US-Taliban deal, the government will free 5,000 Taliban prisoners, while the militants will release 1,000.
The talks took place against a backdrop of continuing violence in the country.
Authorities blamed the Taliban for an explosion in the southern province of Helmand on Wednesday that killed eight civilians, including several children.
How much progress has been made in talks?
The prisoner swap had been due to take place in early March, as part of a US-Taliban deal signed on 29 February, but there have been a series of setbacks. Until Wednesday, the two sides had only met by video conference.
With talks due to resume for a second day on Wednesday, Afghanistan's Office of the National Security Council said that progress had only been made so far “on technical matters”.
The talks were overseen by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the focus was on the release of security force and national defence captives as well as Taliban prisoners, the ICRC said.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said…
