KABUL, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen people, who have been kept as prisoners by the Taliban militant group, were released following a government security forces' operation in western Farah province, authorities said Friday.
"The provincial National Directorate of Security (NDS) launched a special operation late on Thursday, releasing 13 prisoners from a Taliban jail in Bakwa district of Farah province," the national intelligence agency said in a statement.
One Taliban member was arrested during the operation, said the statement.
According to the statement, the prison was controlled by Saifullah, one of the militants' divisional commanders who leads a 50-member anti-government fighters and handles the outfit's intelligence affairs in the province.
Taliban militants frequently detain civilians and off-duty soldiers from across villages and highways and punish civilians for spying for government security forces.
The freed people will join their families soon, the statement added.
The militant group has not made a comment on the report so far.
