Taliban captives freed by Afghan special forces

More than 60 prisoners held by the Taliban militants have been freed by Afghan forces in the southern province of Helmand.

Officials said on Friday in a nighttime helicopter raid, counter-terrorism operators and special forces based in the neighboring province of Kandahar attacked a house in the Naw Zad district used to hold the prisoners and freed them.

At least two militants were killed and several were wounded or detained in the operation.

Taliban militants are presently in control of large parts of Helmand.

The governor of Helmand, Hayatullah Hayat, announced that those freed from Taliban during the raid had been taken to Kandahar for identification.

"We are still investigating as to who these people are," he said.

SS