Some 100 Taliban prisoners were released from a military prison in Afghanistan Monday as part of the government's response to a ceasefire offered by the militants to mark the Eid al-Fitr festival.  

"The government of Afghanistan has today released 100 Taliban prisoners from Bagram prison," National Security Council spokesman Javid Faisal told AFP.  

The Taliban leadership on Saturday evening, the eve of Eid al-Fitr, declared a three-day ceasefire, ordering its fighters to stay inside their bases and refrain from fighting. 

Afghanistan, like other Muslim countries, celebrated Eid al-Fitr on Sunday to mark the end of the Muslim fasting month Ramadan.

In his short address after offering Eid al-Fitr prayer on Sunday, Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani welcomed the Taliban announcement for a ceasefire as a goodwill gesture towards peace and promised to set free 2,000 more prisoners to expedite the peace process. 

The Taliban and Afghan government have exchanged more than 1,200 prisoners including more than 1,000 Taliban and some 200 security personnel since inking the U.S.-Taliban peace deal on February 29. 
  
The Afghan president, who ordered his forces to resume offensives on the armed group following deadly attacks on maternity in Kabul and funeral ceremony in Nangarhar weeks ago, also instructed his forces to return to a defensive position to support the ceasefire in the country in his speech on Sunday.

Calling upon the Taliban to reciprocate the release of prisoners and observe permanent ceasefire in the country, Ghani said his negotiating team "is ready to initiate dialogue" with the armed group to end the war in Afghanistan. 
  
Since the observance of the ceasefire in Afghanistan on Sunday, no security incident has been reported.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday that the fast-moving events in recent months have taken Afghanistan closer to peace than ever.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of China's annual legislative session, Wang said five urgent tasks need to be accomplished to realize peace in Afghanistan, including consolidating the unity of the government, establishing the framework for intra-Afghan talks, withdrawal of foreign troops in an appropriate and orderly manner, striking terrorism and obtaining external support. 

China calls on all parties in the country to immediately cease fire and reach an early agreement on the arrangements for intra-Afghan talks for the country's future political architecture, he told reporters. 

"China will continue to play an active and constructive role in promoting intra-Afghan talks, restoring peace and stability, advancing economic recovery in Afghanistan, and facilitating its participation in regional cooperation," said Wang. 

(With input from Xinhua, AFP)