For Afghan authorities, there is not enough evidence against the prisoners who have been held without trial. Deemed "dangerous criminals" by the US, they are set to go free without their cases being referred to the Afghan criminal justice system.

Kabul (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Washington has expressed concern over the planned release of 72 prisoners, saying it regarded them as "dangerous criminals" for taking part in terrorist operations.

Hundreds of Taliban prisoners at Bagram jail have been freed since March 2013 when the US transferred the facility to the Afghan government.

"We cannot allow innocent Afghan citizens to be kept in detention for months and years without a trial for no reason at all," Mr Karzai's spokesman Aimal Faizi told Reuters.

"We know that unfortunately this has been happening at Bagram, but it is illegal and a violation of Afghan sovereignty."

The United States expressed great concern for this decision through US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki who said there was "strong evidence" linking the 72 to "terror-related crimes".

"We have expressed our concerns over the possible release of these detainees without their cases being referred to the Afghan criminal justice system," she said, since "These insurgents could pose threats to the safety and security of the Afghan people and the state."

• afghanistan
• united
• states
• taliban
• prisoners
• release
• trial