As the Afghan government is set to convene Loya Jirga, or grand assembly of elders, on the fate of 400 Taliban prisoners the Taliban insist should be released before peace talks, Afghan parliament speaker on Tuesday said that holding the assembly is illegal.

In a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani, Mir Rahman Rahmani, the speaker of lower house called Wolesi Jirga, said that while representatives of people are present at parliament, holding a consultative Loya Jirga is illegal, according to a parliamentary statement.
He said that the government should hold a joint and emergency meeting with members of the parliament over key national issues especially the start of peace talks and the fate of 400 Taliban prisoners, the statement said.
The meeting ended without result, but the presidency called for similar meeting with parliament’s speaker, administrative panel, heads of parliamentary commissions and heads of parliamentary groups.
A statement issued by the presidency, however, said that Rahmani people’s support for the establishment and their advices on national issues were important. He pledged his cooperation in this regard, according to the statement.
The consultative Loya Jirga on the fate of 400 Taliban prisoners is set to begin on Friday.