KABUL - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday evening confirmed the release of 19 of the 31 hostages kidnapped in Zabul province more than two months ago.

Addressing a press conference, Ghani thanked the Afghan armed forces for their cooperation that led to safe release of the hostages.

"The released hostages will be brought to Kabul as soon as weather permits. No ransom was paid for their release," Ghani said.

In addition Ghani put rumors of a prisoner swap to rest and said that his government does not believe in the policy of a prisoner swap.

"No prisoner swap was carried out. Government does not have and will not have a policy to exchange prisoners for hostages," he said.

Ghani pledged that the government is now focusing on the release of the remaining hostages so they can return to their families.

The kidnapping took place in March when masked gunmen stopped two buses the passengers were traveling in on the Kabul-Kandahar highway.

Concerted efforts have been carried out in recent weeks by government to free the hostages, including large scale military operations. (Tolonews)