U.S. military not targeting released Afghan prisoners: Pentagon

WASHINGTON: The U.S. military said that it was not actively targeting any of the 65 detainees released by Afghan President Hamid Karzai's government but warned that if the freed prisoners returned to the fight they do it at their own peril.

Despite fierce U.S. protests Karzai's government released the detainees on Thursday in the latest sign of deteriorating ties between Washington and Kabul after more than 12 years of war.

The U.S. military has warned that some of them had killed both Afghans and foreign soldiers and now pose a fresh threat. At the same time Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the released prisoners are not considered targets right now.