Javid Faisal, the spokesman for the National Security Council (NSC), on Thursday confirmed that the release of Taliban prisoners by the Afghan government was nearly complete except for a half dozen prisoners about whom international partners have reservations.

The government received commandos held hostage by the Taliban, said Faisal.

"Diplomatic efforts are ongoing. We expect direct talks to start promptly,” he said.

Sources close to the Taliban confirmed the release of 4,993 prisoners, with seven remaining with seven remaining.

“These prisoners will be transferred to Qatar,” the sources said.

These remaining Taliban prisoners were among 400 singled-out for having allegedly committed serious crimes.

While the hopes for the start of intra-Afghan talks in Doha gather fresh momentum, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan in an interview with Al Jazeera TV accused India of trying to disrupt peace in Afghanistan.

“This is a miracle that it is actually happening. We pray that this happens, we realize that there are spoilers. I am afraid there is certainly one country--India--which does not want it to happen,” said Imran Khan.

In this episode host Yaser Abrar discusses the topic with the following guests:

Khalid Pashton, former MP

Massoud Treshtwal, head of Afghanistan's Legal and Political Studies Institute

Amanullah Paiman, former MP