MojNews- The United States on Monday welcomed the latest release of prisoners by the Afghan government and the Taliban .

U.S. special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said the move is an important step in the peace process and the reduction of violence.

"Both sides should accelerate efforts to meet targets specified in the U.S.-Taliban agreement as soon as possible. The potential for COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons poses a real threat and is all the more reason to move urgently," Khalilzad tweeted.

On Sunday, the Afghan Taliban released 20 government prisoners and handed them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in southern Kandahar province.

The development came after Gen. Scott Miller, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, met Taliban leaders in Qatar on Friday.