Myanmar's junta pardoned 4,893 prisoners, including some political detainees, ahead of a meeting between junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim to discuss aid after a recent earthquake.

Myanmar's junta chief granted a pardon to 4,893 prisoners on Thursday in celebration of the country’s traditional new year, according to reports from state media.

In a separate statement, the junta also announced the planned release of 13 foreign nationals, who are expected to be deported from Myanmar upon their release.

As of last week, approximately 22,197 political prisoners remain detained in Myanmar, including the country’s ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to figures provided by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent watchdog. It remains unclear how many of those released in the recent amnesty were political prisoners jailed for criticizing the military regime.

At least 19 buses carrying prisoners departed from Yangon’s Insein Prison, where relatives and friends had gathered since early Thursday morning in hopes of reuniting with loved ones.

The Political Prisoners Network, another local monitoring group, confirmed that at least 22 political detainees were among those freed. However, the military government's announcement did not provide specific figures regarding political prisoners.

According to the stated conditions of release, those pardoned would be required to serve the remainder of their original sentence and face a new sentence if they are found in violation of the law again.

Other inmates had their prison terms reduced, though individuals convicted of serious offenses such as murder or rape, or those charged under various national security laws, were excluded from the amnesty.

The announcement of the prisoner release coincided with plans for a meeting between junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, scheduled to take place in Bangkok later on Thursday.

Malaysia, this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has previously distanced itself from Myanmar’s junta due to the regime's failure to implement peace efforts. Prime Minister Anwar indicated that the meeting would focus on the safety of Malaysian humanitarian teams dispatched to Myanmar following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the region last month.