President Ashraf Ghani, who took the oath of office for president for a second term on Monday, vowed to issue a decree on the release of Taliban prisoners on Tuesday, and he also said that on the same day the negotiating team will be finalized.

The release of up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners from the Afghan government’s custody is part of the US-Taliban deal that is intended to open the way for intra-Afghan negotiations, for which Ghani’s administration must announce a negotiating team.  

US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, the US charge de affaires Ross Wilson, the US and NATO forces commander Gen. Scott Miller and the ambassadors of the EU, Canada, Australia, Spain, Norway, Belgium, Germany, Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Turkmenistan India, and Pakistan attended the swearing-in ceremony at the Presidential Palace.

“I will issue a decree tomorrow (Tuesday) on the details of the process,” Ghani said, referring to the prisoners’ release. “Fortunately, we have achieved a framework so that there is a comprehensive reduction in violence in exchange for the prisoners' release.”

He said the negotiating team will be finalized on Tuesday.

“This negotiating team has been finalized after consultations with influential figures, members of the civil society, women, youths and representatives of the ulema and different levels of people,” Ghani added.

He also said that his new cabinet will be formed within the next two weeks.

“The government that I will form in the near future will not be a monopoly of the State Builder team (Ghani's campaign team),” he added. “The end of the election is the victorious views and thoughts of the republic.”

He condemned Saturday’s attack in Kabul in which over 30 people – all civilians – were killed and more than 80 others were wounded. Ghani said the attack showed that there is an “invisible” but “basic” relation between the Taliban and Daesh.

His speech was disrupted for some moments after rockets landed in and near the Presidential Palace compound in an attack that was later claimed by Daesh, according to AFP. 

“This is not an armored vest, these are clothes. This is for the sacrifice of the Afghan people. I am ready for sacrifice,” Ghani said amid explosions. 

Ghani encouraged the gathering not to worry about losing their achievements from the past eighteen years, as they will be preserved under the republic.