May 29, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 16,1423

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RAWALPINDI, May 28: The government is likely to offer to interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai the release of Afghan nationals detained in Pakistan’s various jails, an official source said on Tuesday.

Mr Karzai is arriving in Islamabad on a two-day official visit on Wednesday. During his talks with President Pervez Musharraf, the Afghan leader is likely to be offered the release of 702 Afghan detainees as a friendly gesture, the source said.

The source said that 122 Afghan nationals, detained in Landhi jail, and 580 others, imprisoned in different jails of Punjab, would be released in the first phase.

There are another 627 Afghan nationals in various jails in the country and would be released and extradited in the second phase, the source said.

The source said that all the Afghan detainees would be extradited to their country with their families.