Pakistan and Afghanistan agree prisoner release deal

Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed today to repatriate about 400 Pakistanis, held for more than two years in grim Afghan jails for fighting with the Taliban, in exchange for the release of nearly 250 Afghans.

He also praised Pakistan’s efforts in fighting al-Qaida, despite lingering fears of cross-border attacks by insurgents who could sabotage landmark Afghan presidential elections in October.