ISLAMABAD - (AP) -- Pakistani government and intelligence officials say Islamabad has freed several Taliban prisoners to facilitate the Afghan peace process.

The officials say the prisoners were freed Wednesday at the request of the Afghan government. The move came during a visit by Salahuddin Rabbani, head of an Afghan government council for peace talks with the Taliban.

The Pakistani government official says at least seven "low and mid-level" militants were freed, and it is up to them whether they go back to Afghanistan to participate in peace talks.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media about the prisoner release.