KABUL - Releasing insurgents from prisons is strengthening the "trenches" of the Taliban, Afghanistan National Front chairman, Ahmad Zia Massoud, said Saturday.
Speaking at the "Woman's Rights in Society" conference in Kabul, Massoud spoke of the recent government move to release 79 suspected insurgents from two prisons, saying it would only lead to great insecurity in the country.
"The government has an interest in the insurgent groups. Which authority allowed the President to release those who killed Afghans, Parliament?" Masoud said.

He said the move would not facilitate talks with the Taliban, the apparent reason for the move, pointing out that the Taliban have never recognized the Afghan government nor been open to talks.
Massoud also spoke of the violence against women in Afghanistan, saying that as long as the Afghan people hold on to old traditions, violence against woman will exist.

The government has failed to educate its people to forget these practices and live in a modern way, he added.
Meanwhile, human rights activists at the conference urged all political and other conflict-related parties in Afghanistan, particularly the Afghan government and the Ulema Council, to do more to prevent any further drumhead court acting against women's rights.

"We, the Afghan women, urge all groups in Afghanistan to accept each other and to not harm people and women. The women have sacrificed a lot in the past," head of Afghan Women Association Fatana Gilani said at the conference.

Another human rights activist Marzai Rahimi blamed the government for the lack of respect towards women.
"We live in an Islamic country, we have constitution, but not even the Afghan leaders are respecting women," she said. (Tolo News)