Maulvi Hamdullah has been released from 18 years of detention at the Guantanamo Bay prison and reunited with his family, officials and relatives said on Sunday.
Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhel, a senior advisor to President Ashraf Ghani, told Pajhwok Afghan News efforts were stepped up in the recent months for the release of Hamdullah.
He said President Ghani, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and Foreign Ministry closely watched efforts for his release.
The United Arab Emirate (UAE) government handed over Hamdullah to the Afghan government a few days back, the presidential advisor continued.
Hamdullah was reunited with his family during a ceremony in Kabul on Saturday, Amarkhel said.
Hamdullah Tarakhel, son of famous religious scholar Maulvi Syed Agha, is a resident of Dehsabz district of Kabul province.
Shahbuddin Tarakhel, a member of Hamdullah’s family, confirmed to Pajhwok that Maulvi Hamdullah met his family on Saturday.
He recalled Hamdullah had been arrested during a US military operation in the Qargha area of Kabul in 2002.