Afghanistan to Release 72 Prisoners US Deems a Threat

Expect more diplomatic strains between countries

Officials in Afghanistan say they plan to release 72 prisoners the United States says pose a threat to security.

The decision is expected to further strain U.S.—Afghan relations as pressure mounts over the delayed signing of a security deal that outlines the U.S. military presence in the country after 2014.

A statement from the office of Afghan President Hamid Karzai says a review of the cases of the 88 prisoners considered serious threats found there was no evidence against 45 detainees and only circumstantial evidence against another 27, not enough to put them on trial.