Afghanistan says it has released 3 Pakistani soldiers captured during October cross-border fighting

Afghanistan says it has released three Pakistani soldiers it had captured during cross-border fighting last October. Afghanistan's government spokesman said Tuesday the three were handed over to Saudi mediators in light of the start of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. Tension between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan has been high since deadly border clashes in October killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants, and wounded hundreds more on both sides. The violence erupted after explosions in Kabul, the Afghan capital, on Oct. 9 that the Taliban government blamed on Pakistan and vowed to avenge.