Pakistan freeing 7 more Taliban prisoners

Publish date : 7 September, 2013

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry says authorities are freeing seven more Taliban prisoners to facilitate a peace process aimed at reaching a political resolution to the war in neighboring Afghanistan.

The Saturday statement did not make clear if the releases had already happened or were in the process of happening. Some 26 other Taliban detainees were freed last year.

Pakistan didn’t give any details. It is not clear why Islamabad, which has historical ties with the Afghan Taliban but which is battling its own branch of the militant movement, had arrested the men originally.

The move comes less than two weeks after Afghan President Hamid Karzai visited Pakistan to discuss the peace negotiations. Kabul wants Pakistan to help with the process.