Taliban frees three Pakistani soldiers in Saudi-mediated move

By Mohammad Yunus ‌Yawar

KABUL, Feb 17 (Reuters) - ​Afghanistan's ​Taliban government said on Tuesday it had released three Pakistani soldiers captured during border ‌clashes in October, in a move mediated by ⁠Saudi Arabia amid strained ties and a prolonged frontier closure between ‌the two neighbours.

The release ‌comes months after the worst cross-border fighting since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Dozens were killed ​in October clashes, after which both sides agreed to a fragile ceasefire but failed to secure ⁠a longer-term political understanding.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement the soldiers, ​detained on October 12 during fighting along the border, were handed over to a Saudi ​delegation in Kabul.

He said the ‌release was in line with the Taliban government's policy of maintaining "positive relations with all ⁠countries" and came ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

It was also in response to a request from "the brotherly ⁠country of Saudi Arabia", which has hosted recent talks between ​the two sides, the spokesman added.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Key border crossings between Afghanistan ‌and Pakistan have been periodically shut amid the tensions, disrupting trade and movement across ‌the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) frontier.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan's Taliban rulers of harbouring ⁠militants who stage attacks ‌inside Pakistan, a charge ​Kabul denies.

(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar; writing by Ariba Shahid in Karachi, editing by Andrei ‌Khalip)

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