<span style="color: #222222;">The Taliban today rejected Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's offer to release 1,500 insurgent prisoners ahead of peace talks, saying it wanted 5,000 captives freed before opening negotiations.<br />'' <br />''Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told media that the prisoners should be released as a trust-building measure before intra-Afghan talks. He said any changes would amount to a violation of the deal struck between the Taliban and the US in Doha last month.<br />''<br />''Shaheen's announcement came hours after Afghan government issued a decree saying the government would release 1,500 captives starting Saturday, but only if the insurgents cut violence. A spokesperson of President, Ashraf Ghani has said on Twitter that another 3,500 prisoners would be released after talks started.</span>