Afghan Taliban have reportedly released several key leaders of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after seizing Bagram Airbase on Sunday. The freed prisoners include senior Al Qaeda operatives, Baitullah Mehsud’s driver Commander Zali, Waqas Mehsud, Hamza Mehsud, Zarqawi Mehsud, Zaitullah Mehsud, Qari Hameedullah Mehsud, Hameed Mehsud and Mazhar Mehsud, as per international media. In total, around 2,300 TTP commanders jailed by the US are said to have been released by the Afghan Taliban.
As part of America’s exit from Kabul, the Bagram Airbase was given back to the Afghan government by the US forces on July 1.
Taliban were able to take over after the Afghan soldiers deployed there offered no resistance. After they gained control, the Taliban freed thousands of prisoners.