KABUL, Sept 12: The former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan has been released from a US military prison in Cuba under an Afghan government reconciliation programme, Afghan state television said on Monday.

Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef became the Taliban’s spokesman after the Sept 11 attacks.

“The Taliban ambassador to Pakistan, who had been in Guantanamo prison for some time, has been released with the help of the reconciliation programme,” state-run Kabul National Television said.

Mr Zaeef had met the head of the reconciliation programme, former president Sibghatullah Mojadidi, the television said. It gave no details and Mojadidi was not immediately available for comment.

The Taliban welcomed his release and hoped more prisoners would be set free.—Reuters