The Taliban have freed an American and an Australian held hostage since 2016 in exchange for three imprisoned senior militants.
Timothy Weeks and Kevin King were kidnapped outside the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul where they worked as professors.
The three Taliban prisoners reportedly include Anas Haqqani, younger brother of the Taliban deputy, Sirajuddin Haqqani, and two other senior commanders.
Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani said it was a hard decision but is aimed at restarting talks with the Taliban.


Trump says US, Israel to hold off on fresh Iran attack in hope of quick deal
Israeli strikes kill two in Gaza, destroy medicine storage warehouses
Thirteen die in tourist plane crash over Peru's Nazca Lines
Bomb carried by woman kills three, injures 21 near Moscow restaurant, authorities say
