Nearly 10,000 Afghan prisoners set free from Pakistan, Iran in 12 months

KABUL, July 30 (Xinhua) -- A total of 9,951 Afghan nationals who had been imprisoned in Pakistan and Iran have been set free and returned to their homeland, Afghanistan, over the past 12 months, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced on Wednesday.

Among them, 9,541 had been detained in Pakistan due to a lack of legal documents, while an additional 410 were freed from prisons in Iran, said Mawlawi Mahmud-ul-Haq Ahadi, head of planning and policy for the ministry, during an accountability program.

The official stated that upon their return, they were supported by the ministry in coordination with aid organizations and transported to their home provinces.

Right now, over 10,000 Afghan citizens are imprisoned abroad, the majority of whom are being held in Iran and Pakistan, according to data released last week by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Enditem