The Afghan government on Tuesday released another group of Taliban prisoners as part of efforts to put the stalled peace process back on track, a move welcomed by the Taliban.

So far, the government has released 902 Taliban prisoners, according to the National Security Council’s spokesman Javid Faisal, who said another 500 inmates will be released in the coming days.

Faisal said that at this stage a total of 1,500 prisoners will be released by the Afghan government. The Afghan government made an earlier pledge to release a total of 5,000 Taliban prisoners only after the start of the intra-Afghan negotiations and if violence is reduced in a way that leads to a countrywide ceasefire.

"The Taliban does not have much interest in peace. We are witnessing an increase of violence by them every day and they martyr the people of Afghanistan,” said Faisal.

But the Taliban in a statement welcomed the move and called for an expedited release of their prisoners to “save them” from the coronavirus and pave the way for the intra-Afghan negotiations.

The process continues amid hopes for beginning intra-Afghan negotiations, which have been delayed over issues around the prisoner release and other matters.

Some freed prisoners, who spoke in recorded videos released by the government on Tuesday, pledged they will not return to the war, saying that violence will reduce with the continuation of the process.

“I was imprisoned on charges of being a Taliban member. I was sentenced to nine years in jail. I completed three years of my sentence. I am released as part of efforts for the peace process and I hope that peace is established in the country,” said Mohammad Yunus, a freed Taliban prisoner.

Meanwhile, a member of the government’s negotiation team said they have started their initial meetings for beginning the talks.

“The negotiation team has made the required preparations and we are awaiting the recommendations of the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the specification of the time and venue of the negotiations,” said Ghulam Farooq Majroh, member of the negotiation team.

“I want to tell the (Afghan) government that you say you want a ceasefire to fight the coronavirus, but you are not releasing prisoners over the pandemic,” said Sayed Akbar Agha, a former Taliban member.

Analysts say that the release of Taliban prisoners will open the way for a reduction of violence by the Taliban.

“We should come together and make peace,” said Mohammad Amin Waqad, an analyst.

“Taliban are blamed if they are acting against the (peace) agreement and if the government violates it, it is seeking power,” said Mawlawi Qalamuddin, a former Taliban member.

So far, the Taliban has released 110 prisoners of the Afghan government.