The United States on Thursday severely criticized Afghanistan’s release of 65 alleged Taliban fighters from jail, saying it was "a deeply regrettable" decision that could lead to further violence in the war-torn country

The United States on Thursday severely criticized Afghanistan's release of 65 alleged Taliban fighters from jail, saying it was "a deeply regrettable" decision that could lead to further violence in the war-torn country.

  

"The Afghan government bears responsibility for the results of its decision," the US embassy said. "We urge it to make every effort to ensure that those released do not commit new acts of violence and terror."

 

The release of the Bagram prisoners is set to further worsen the bitter relationship between Kabul and Washington as US-led foreign troops prepare to withdraw after 13 years fighting the Islamist militants.

  

"The 65 prisoners were freed and walked out of the Bagram prison compound this morning," Abdul Shukor Dadras, a member of the Afghan government's review body, told AFP. "Their cases were reviewed and we had no reason to keep them in jail."

 

President Hamid Karzai has called Bagram prison a "Taliban-producing factory" and alleged that some detainees were tortured into hating their country.

  

Before the release, the US military described the men as "dangerous individuals" directly linked to attacks which killed or wounded 32 NATO personnel and 23 Afghans. It gave names and details of three men to be freed, including Mohammad Wali, whom it described as a suspected Taliban explosives expert "biometrically linked" to two bombings against troops in Helmand province.