Afghanistan: Afghan government officials have confirmed the escape of 540 members of the talibans from the Khandar prison through a 320 metre-long tunnel.

The overnight escape was also confirmed by a Taliban official who boasted about the vainglorious five-month planning of the getaway.

The Taliban state that the tunnel was dug by members of the group outside the prison.  ”Mujahideen started digging a 320 metre-long to the prison from the south side, which was completed after a five-month period, bypassing check posts and the Kandahar-Herat main highway leading directly to the political prison,” the statement read.

Yousuf Ahmedi, a Taliban spokesman claimed that all the men were safe and there was no sign of fighting.

The Taliban claim the prison guards were unaware of the planning and the escape until four hours later after the incident took place.

If the number of the escaped members is correct then this is a huge success for the Talibans.

Previous escapes have occurred from the same prison in the year 2008.  Talibans bombed the entrance and attacked the guards.

Al Jazeera reports, nearly all of the estimated 1,150 prisoners, including some 400 Taliban, escaped, according to Afghan officials.

Read it at Al Jazeera.

Image Source: Trend and ABC.