Afghanistan free prisoners, angers US
15 Feb 2014 4:43 AM IST
The release of the prisoners further worsened the bitter relationship between Kabul and Washington as US-led foreign troops prepare to withdraw after 13 years fighting the Islamist militants.
‘The 65 prisoners were freed and walked out of the Bagram prison compound this morning,’ Abdul Shukor Dadras, a member of the Afghan government’s review body, said. ‘Their cases were reviewed and we had no reason to keep them in jail.’
The US embassy criticised the releases as ‘a deeply regrettable’ move that could lead to further violence in Afghanistan, which has suffered a bloody Taliban insurgency since 2001.
‘The Afghan government bears responsibility for the results of its decision,’ the embassy said in a statement. ‘We urge it to make every effort to ensure that those released do not commit new acts of violence and terror.’
But President Hamid Karzai has called Bagram prison a ‘Taliban-producing factory’ and alleged that some detainees were tortured into hating their country.
The US military described the men as ‘dangerous individuals’ directly linked to attacks which killed or wounded 32 NATO personnel and 23 Afghans.
It gave names and details of three men to be freed, including Mohammad Wali, whom it described as a suspected Taliban explosives expert ‘biometrically linked’ to two bombings against troops in Helmand province.
‘Violent criminals who harm Afghans and threaten the peace and security of Afghanistan should face justice in the Afghan courts,’ the US force said in a statement.
US aid at risk?
Plans to free the men have enraged US officials and become a focus point of strained relations as the two countries wrangle over a security deal, which would allow some American soldiers to stay in the country after 2014.
Most US and other foreign troops are scheduled to pull out this year, but a small force may stay to conduct training and counter-terrorism missions.
Thursday’s prison releases could threaten essential funding for Afghanistan as US lawmakers become increasingly frustrated at Kabul’s antagonistic approach to its biggest aid donor.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen also criticised the decision, which he said was ‘a major step backwards for the rule of law in Afghanistan and poses serious security concerns.’
‘The 65 prisoners were freed and walked out of the Bagram prison compound this morning,’ Abdul Shukor Dadras, a member of the Afghan government’s review body, said. ‘Their cases were reviewed and we had no reason to keep them in jail.’
The US embassy criticised the releases as ‘a deeply regrettable’ move that could lead to further violence in Afghanistan, which has suffered a bloody Taliban insurgency since 2001.
‘The Afghan government bears responsibility for the results of its decision,’ the embassy said in a statement. ‘We urge it to make every effort to ensure that those released do not commit new acts of violence and terror.’
But President Hamid Karzai has called Bagram prison a ‘Taliban-producing factory’ and alleged that some detainees were tortured into hating their country.
The US military described the men as ‘dangerous individuals’ directly linked to attacks which killed or wounded 32 NATO personnel and 23 Afghans.
It gave names and details of three men to be freed, including Mohammad Wali, whom it described as a suspected Taliban explosives expert ‘biometrically linked’ to two bombings against troops in Helmand province.
‘Violent criminals who harm Afghans and threaten the peace and security of Afghanistan should face justice in the Afghan courts,’ the US force said in a statement.
US aid at risk?
Plans to free the men have enraged US officials and become a focus point of strained relations as the two countries wrangle over a security deal, which would allow some American soldiers to stay in the country after 2014.
Most US and other foreign troops are scheduled to pull out this year, but a small force may stay to conduct training and counter-terrorism missions.
Thursday’s prison releases could threaten essential funding for Afghanistan as US lawmakers become increasingly frustrated at Kabul’s antagonistic approach to its biggest aid donor.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen also criticised the decision, which he said was ‘a major step backwards for the rule of law in Afghanistan and poses serious security concerns.’
Next Story
