adminAfghanistan has initiated the release of 65 “dangerous” detainees from Bagram prison, north of Kabul, local news services reported.
The reports stated that all of the prisoners — most hailing from the country’s east or south — would be released and transported by bus to Kabul.
“They will be released today if there’s not a change of plan,” Abdul Shukor Dadras, a member of the Afghan government body reviewing detainees, said. “Their cases were reviewed and we have no reason to keep them in jail.”
Bernard Smith, reporting from the city of Herat in north-western Afghanistan, said yesterday’s development will complicate relations between the United States and the Afghan government, which has yet to sign a pact allowing US troops to remain in the country beyond the end of 2014.
“It further strains relations between the two, but [Afghan President Hamid] Karzai wants the Taliban on his side,” Smith said. “A lot of people are seeing the release of these prisoners as effectively trying to woo the Taliban.”
US forces in Afghanistan have condemned the Afghan government’s decision to move forward with the detainee release, calling the prisoners a security threat.
The US Embassy in Kabul also said yesterday, noting the group of 65 included people “who are responsible for, or contributed to, the deaths of Afghan security force personnel, Afghan civilians, and American and other coalition personnel.
Online Reporter