With unprecedented international support, Afghanistan government officially started peace talks with the Taliban on Saturday in Doha to reach peace after 19 years of conflict.

Intra-Afghan peace talks began after painstaking months of negotiations between Washington and Taliban, setting motion to a prisoner swap between Kabul government and militants. The lengthy exchange of prisoners put the Kabul government on a tight spot as it construed it as an act of relenting to a deal it never was part of. Nevertheless, the government released 6,300 prisoners, removing all barriers to peace talks.

As talks began, Taliban freed 22 Afghan forces in Helmand as a goodwill gesture.

http://www.afghanistantimes.af/afghanistan-starts-talks-with-taliban-to-end-war/