Loya jirga to decide fate of Taliban talks

Thousands of Afghans began a three-day gathering in Kabul yesterday to decide whether to release about 400 Taliban prisoners, including many involved in attacks that killed scores of Afghans and foreigners, a key obstacle to advance peace talks. "The Taliban said if these 400 are released, then within three days direct talks will start," President Ashraf Ghani said as he opened the loya jirga -- a traditional Afghan meeting of tribal elders.