...the Pashtun equivalent of men...prisoners in Afghan forces operations in northern Baghlan and Kunduz provinces.
In the operation in Baghlan, 34 people were rescued from a Taliban prison. The operation was carried out by the police on Monday night, the provincial police said in a statement on Tuesday.
Seven army soldiers, seven coppers, three NDS personnel and 17 civilians were among those freed, Baghlan police said in a statement.
In a separate operation by Afghan Army’s Special Unit in northern Kunduz province, 13 people were rescued, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Tuesday.
This comes as the Afghan government released 38 Taliban prisoners in Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
and another 170 inmates of the group in Kabul on Monday.
The Taliban prisoners were released on the order of President Ghani as he announced earlier this month that up to 900 Taliban prisoners were released as part of a goodwill gesture for peace.
The move, however, has faced criticism by analysts who say it is a unilateral decision.
| Khaama Press adds: |
...the Pashtun equivalent of men...prison in Kunduz province and rescued 13 prisoners.
The Special Operations Corps in a statement said the Special Forces stormed the Taliban prison in Aaqtash district.
The statement further added that the Special Forces conducted the operation late on Monday night.
The anti-government armed turbans including Taliban have not commented regarding the operation.
This comes as the Special Forces have conducted similar operations in other provinces during the recent weeks and have freed dozens of hostages from Taliban prisons.