Afghan govt to release scores of Taliban prisoners in defiance of US wishes

Afghanistan is set to release scores of prisoners considered a security threat by the United States.

A statement from President Hamid Karzai's office said there was not much evidence against 72 out of 88 prisoners previously held by US forces.

According to the BBC, Washington expressed concern over the planned releases, saying it regarded the 72 as 'dangerous criminals'.

Hundreds of prisoners at Bagram jail have been freed since the Afghan government took over the running of the prison in March 2013, the report said.

The government now said that there is no evidence against 45 out of 88 other prisoners.

Karzai's spokesman, Aimal Faizi, said that they cannot allow innocent Afghan civilians to be kept in detention for years without a trial and for no reason at all.

US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said there was 'strong evidence' linking the 72 to 'terror-related crimes,' the report added.

She said that they have expressed concerns over the possible release of these detainees without their cases being referred to the Afghan criminal justice system.

She added that these insurgents could pose threats to the safety and security of the Afghan people and the state.