Afghanistan to Free Prisoners
The Afghan authorities are to release hundreds of Pakistani prisoners held in the country for over a year, according to Pakistani officials. The Pakistani ambassador to Kabul, Rustam Shah Mohmand, says Afghan leader Hamid Karzai issued a decree enabling the release of Pakistani prisoners detained since the events of October and November 2001. The ambassador welcomed the decision, although he noted it had been a long time coming. Most of the prisoners are held at Sheberghan in northern Afghanistan, but there are said to be about a 150 in Kabul and up to 200 in other locations around the country. They were captured by Northern Alliance forces during the American-led military campaign in Afghanistan in late 2001. Full Story