The U.S. military in Afghanistan says it has released 85 Afghan prisoners after deciding they no longer posed a threat to their government.

Military spokeswoman Cindy Moore says the men were brought from U.S. bases to Kabul and turned over to local authorities during a closed-door ceremony at the Afghan Supreme Court.

She said the prisoners, who were captured during U.S.-led military operations against the former Taleban regime, were freed after pledging loyalty to the new government.

Afghan officials say the men have spent between two months and two years in custody on suspicion of a variety of crimes.

Sunday release comes less than two weeks after 17 Afghan prisoners were released from U.S. prisons in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.