<p>US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged prominent Afghans holding a major meeting Friday to free Taliban prisoners, promising help if the war-torn nation moves forward on peace efforts.</p>.<p>"We acknowledge that the release of these prisoners is unpopular," Pompeo said in a statement.</p>.<p>"But this difficult action will lead to an important result long sought by Afghans and Afghanistan's friends: reduction of violence and direct talks resulting in a peace agreement and an end to the war."</p>.<p>In a statement unthinkable after the September 11, 2001 attacks triggered the US invasion, the top US diplomat told Afghan leaders that the Taliban were committed to reducing violence after talks start.</p>.<p>"The United States intends to hold the Taliban to these commitments," Pompeo said.</p>.<p>The Taliban are demanding the release of 400 prisoners -- many accused of serious offences, with more than 150 on death row -- as a condition to start peace talks with the internationally recognized government in Kabul.</p>.<p>President Ashraf Ghani deferred the decision on whether to release these inmates to a loya jirga -- a traditional Afghan meeting of tribal elders and other stakeholders.</p>.<p>President Donald Trump's administration is eager to wind down America's longest war and showcase a foreign policy success ahead of November elections.</p>.<p>The United States on February 29 signed a deal with the Taliban under which all US troops would leave by mid-2021.</p>.<p>Pompeo vowed that the United States would maintain support for Afghanistan.</p>.<p>"We are ready to support a peace settlement, including by extending US development programs to previously underserved areas," Pompeo said.</p>
<p>US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged prominent Afghans holding a major meeting Friday to free Taliban prisoners, promising help if the war-torn nation moves forward on peace efforts.</p>.<p>"We acknowledge that the release of these prisoners is unpopular," Pompeo said in a statement.</p>.<p>"But this difficult action will lead to an important result long sought by Afghans and Afghanistan's friends: reduction of violence and direct talks resulting in a peace agreement and an end to the war."</p>.<p>In a statement unthinkable after the September 11, 2001 attacks triggered the US invasion, the top US diplomat told Afghan leaders that the Taliban were committed to reducing violence after talks start.</p>.<p>"The United States intends to hold the Taliban to these commitments," Pompeo said.</p>.<p>The Taliban are demanding the release of 400 prisoners -- many accused of serious offences, with more than 150 on death row -- as a condition to start peace talks with the internationally recognized government in Kabul.</p>.<p>President Ashraf Ghani deferred the decision on whether to release these inmates to a loya jirga -- a traditional Afghan meeting of tribal elders and other stakeholders.</p>.<p>President Donald Trump's administration is eager to wind down America's longest war and showcase a foreign policy success ahead of November elections.</p>.<p>The United States on February 29 signed a deal with the Taliban under which all US troops would leave by mid-2021.</p>.<p>Pompeo vowed that the United States would maintain support for Afghanistan.</p>.<p>"We are ready to support a peace settlement, including by extending US development programs to previously underserved areas," Pompeo said.</p>