KABUL: Afghanistan says it has released some 250 prisoners formerly held by the U.S. in hopes that this will lead to reconciliation in the 11-year conflict.
A Defense Ministry spokesman said that 80 were freed from prisons across the country on Friday, the latest batch of a total of 400 to be released this week. The released prisoners had been captured in operations against the Taliban and other groups.
Police Maj. Jalal Uddin said he was certain that the prisoners would now support the Kabul government and help the peace process.
The U.S. military held thousands of prisoners at a facility on its base in Bagram near Kabul but, since an agreement with the Afghan government last March, more than 3,000 were transferred to Afghan control. .