“We should be able to free our citizens in (an) exchange, as American citizens are important for them (the US), just as Afghans are important for us,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told a press conference in Kabul.

He said discussions over a prisoner exchange were held with US representatives during United Nations-led talks in Qatar.

The talks, which gathered UN officials, Taliban authorities and the special envoys to Afghanistan, ended on Monday.

“Two American citizens are imprisoned in Afghanistan,” Mujahid told the press conference, adding that Afghan prisoners were also held in the US, including in the secretive US prison in Cuba.

“We have had discussions on their release with them (the US) before. Afghanistan’s conditions should be accepted,” he said.