Police backed by NATO troops recaptured 65 escapees who were among nearly 500 inmates that escaped in a mass jailbreak in southern Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday.
A total of 487 Taliban prisoners escaped from Sarpoza prison in the southern province of Kandahar through a 320-metre tunnel dug by their accomplices over several months, DPA reported.
Afghan and NATO troops stationed in the province began a manhunt soon after the breakout and so far have arrested 65 escapees, the provincial governor's office said.
Officials said that jail authorities had collected biometric data for all prisoners and it would be easier to track down the fugitives.
Two of the inmates were killed Monday after they resisted arrest by police in the provincial capital Kandahar.
Monday's massive prison break underlined the weakness of Afghan security forces who are due gradually to take over security responsibility from the international troops. The NATO troops are scheduled to withdraw and hand over all responsibility to local forces by the end of 2014.
Afghan and NATO officials have also admitted that the breakout was a setback for US-led forces - particularly after the allied forces made some military headway in Kandahar and Helmand provinces in recent months.
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