LAHORE: Sixty-six Pakistani prisoners were released by Kabul on Monday and that brings the total number of released Pakistanis to 722. It is believed that about 2,000 Pakistanis are still in the custody of Afghan tribes and the Interior Ministry has yet to secure their release. Interior Ministry sources on Tuesday told Daily Times that the Pakistani and Afghan governments were working together for the release of Pakistanis in Afghan jails, but the whereabouts and conditions of Pakistanis being held by tribes was not known. Sources said most of the Pakistanis belonged to militant organisations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harkatul Mujahideen who were supporting the Taliban. Sources also said very limited facilities were being offered to Pakistanis in Afghan jails, but those being held by the tribes were living in miserable conditions. Sources further said these tribes had sent pictures of their captives to their families in Pakistan and were asking for ransom ranging from Rs 50,000 and Rs 200,000.
| Nope. The old sympathy meter hasn't budged. Maybe it's busted? |
Sources said besides the Pakistanis being held by Afghan authorities, 54 prisoners were shifted to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Only one prisoner, Fateh Muhammad, 60, was released. Talking here to Daily Times, 19-year-old Abdul Rashid who was just released from Afghanistan said he belonged to Faisalabad and was called by the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s regional chief to join him and a group of volunteers to fight the Americans in Afghanistan.
| Don't forget to thank him, next time you see him. |
|