Taliban agree Eid ceasefire in Afghanistan peace talks

Militants to halt fighting over Muslim holiday following deal to release 5000 combatants

Afghanistan's stuttering peace process has received fresh impetus with the announcement of an Eid ceasefire, and a government pledge to complete the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners, a pre-condition for direct talks.

US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, in Kabul as part of a regional push to get talks back on track, has also suggested the ceasefire could be extended if the militant fighters are released by Friday, local media reported.