The Afghan Taliban are blaming the United States for this week’s failed prisoner swap between the two adversaries, saying the American side did not show up at a mutually agreed upon venue, somewhere inside Afghanistan.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the insurgent group, told VOA on Friday that the deal was suspended for now, and that it was up to U.S. officials to explain why they reneged on their promise.
The prisoner exchange could have secured freedom for two Western hostages, American Kevin King and Australian Timothy John Weeks, who have been in Taliban captivity since August 2016.
