KABUL, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 565 Afghan nationals imprisoned in Pakistan and Iraq have been freed and returned to Afghanistan over the past week, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation announced Thursday.

Of those released, 517 inmates who had been held in Pakistani prisons for periods of up to two months returned home via the Spin Boldak crossing in southern Kandahar province. An additional 48 Afghans, imprisoned in Iraq for six to nine months, were repatriated through the Pul-e-Abresham border point in western Nimroz province, according to the ministry's statement.

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in July, more than 10,000 Afghan citizens remain incarcerated overseas, primarily in Iran and Pakistan. Enditem