ISLAMABAD, May 19: Pakistan expects that United States will soon free up to 24 Pakistani prisoners from its Guantanamo Bay detention centre, officials said on Wednesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan told Reuters that dates were being worked out for the release of the "bulk" of the Pakistanis among the hundreds of prisoners being held at the controversial prison at a US naval base in Cuba.

"In principle a decision has been taken. There is an arrangement being worked out," Mr Khan added. He also could not give an exact number of detainees to be released captured during Washington's "war on terror" following the Sept 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. -Reuters