Taliban demand release of 1,000 prisoners for ceasefire: source

AVA- The message was delivered by a Qatari delegation during a visit to Kabul, the official said on condition of anonymity.
A previous ceasefire by the group during the last Eid in June carried no preconditions.
On Saturday, Taliban issued a message attributed to its leader Hibatullah Akhundzada who extended congratulations on the occasion of Eid, but didn’t mention any possible ceasefire.
Earlier this week, Reuters citing two senior Taliban officials said that senior leaders of the movement would meet either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday to discuss the option of ceasefire.
Nazar Mohammad Mutmain, a former Taliban member, however, said that the Taliban are not willing to announce new ceasefire due to increased military pressure on the group following the last ceasefire.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, heads of High Peace Council and Ulema Council called on the government and the Taliban to announce new ceasefire.
President Ashraf Ghani also said that the ceasefire should be bilateral and should aim peace.
In his Eid message, the Taliban leader reiterated call for direct talks with the United States and demand for withdrawal of foreign troops.