The Afghan government on Thursday freed some 49 Pakistanis captured in the country during the US-led war against Taleban regime in late 2001, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said.
The 49 Pakistanis were released as a sign of goodwill towards Pakistan, General Aroun Hassefi said.
"We have decided to release 49 Pakistanis captured in combat at the end of 2001 in the north of Afghanistan. They are those who enlisted because of al Qaeda propaganda," Hassefi said
"We hope that the Pakistani government will make clear to these people that the path they had chosen was bad."
General Hassefi, calling on the released men to "use their re-found freedom well", allowed members of the media to witness the release of the prisoners.