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| Afghans’ Planned Prisoner Releases Anger U.S. | Afghans’ Planned Prisoner Releases Anger U.S. |
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| KABUL, Afghanistan — Just months after American officials ceded control over all detention operations in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai’s government has quietly planned dozens of prisoner releases that American and Afghan officials said on Tuesday would include committed insurgents who had attacked Americans. | KABUL, Afghanistan — Just months after American officials ceded control over all detention operations in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai’s government has quietly planned dozens of prisoner releases that American and Afghan officials said on Tuesday would include committed insurgents who had attacked Americans. |
| The pending wave of releases has revived one of the most caustic — and seemingly resolved — issues between the allies just as relations have hit a new low over Mr. Karzai’s refusal to sign a long-term security agreement with American officials. Officials from both countries who support the security deal say they are worried that the mass release of militants with American blood on their hands could scuttle talks altogether and lead to a complete Western withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014. | The pending wave of releases has revived one of the most caustic — and seemingly resolved — issues between the allies just as relations have hit a new low over Mr. Karzai’s refusal to sign a long-term security agreement with American officials. Officials from both countries who support the security deal say they are worried that the mass release of militants with American blood on their hands could scuttle talks altogether and lead to a complete Western withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014. |
| It was out of concern that dangerous militants might be too easily returned to the battlefield that American military commanders initially resisted Mr. Karzai’s demands in the spring to hand over all detention operations. As the Americans relented, they said they had received his personal assurances that security would be maintained. | It was out of concern that dangerous militants might be too easily returned to the battlefield that American military commanders initially resisted Mr. Karzai’s demands in the spring to hand over all detention operations. As the Americans relented, they said they had received his personal assurances that security would be maintained. |
| Suddenly, it is a major issue again, though the releases have not been made final. | Suddenly, it is a major issue again, though the releases have not been made final. |
| The Afghan commission charged with reviewing detainee cases at the main military prison near Bagram Air Base, a coalition hub north of Kabul, is planning to release more than 85 prisoners who the coalition and Afghan defense officials say should face trial. The plans were detailed by American and Afghan officials alarmed by the move, and have been confirmed by commission members. | The Afghan commission charged with reviewing detainee cases at the main military prison near Bagram Air Base, a coalition hub north of Kabul, is planning to release more than 85 prisoners who the coalition and Afghan defense officials say should face trial. The plans were detailed by American and Afghan officials alarmed by the move, and have been confirmed by commission members. |
| “These are guys that are tied directly to killing and trying to kill our forces and Afghan forces,” an American military official said. “This is an issue of deep concern. It is serious.” | “These are guys that are tied directly to killing and trying to kill our forces and Afghan forces,” an American military official said. “This is an issue of deep concern. It is serious.” |
| The commission disagrees. Abdul Shakor Dadras, a member of the three-man panel, said there was no real evidence against any of the men, who are among the 650 prisoners the panel has ordered freed since it was created by Mr. Karzai after the transfer of the prison in March. | The commission disagrees. Abdul Shakor Dadras, a member of the three-man panel, said there was no real evidence against any of the men, who are among the 650 prisoners the panel has ordered freed since it was created by Mr. Karzai after the transfer of the prison in March. |
| In an interview on Tuesday, Mr. Dadras said that Mr. Karzai tentatively approved the releases at a cabinet meeting last week. The president, he said, ordered the commission to give the international military coalition and the main Afghan intelligence agency until Friday to produce evidence against the detainees. If none is produced, the men will be released, Mr. Dadras said. | In an interview on Tuesday, Mr. Dadras said that Mr. Karzai tentatively approved the releases at a cabinet meeting last week. The president, he said, ordered the commission to give the international military coalition and the main Afghan intelligence agency until Friday to produce evidence against the detainees. If none is produced, the men will be released, Mr. Dadras said. |
| But American and Afghan security officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of tensions between the countries, said they had already given the commission enough evidence to send all the detainees in question to trial, or at least to hold them pending further investigation. The officials said they have evidence linking the detainees to the killings of 117 American, European and Afghan service members and civilians, and that they are ready to continue investigating in cases where more evidence is need to try the men. | But American and Afghan security officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of tensions between the countries, said they had already given the commission enough evidence to send all the detainees in question to trial, or at least to hold them pending further investigation. The officials said they have evidence linking the detainees to the killings of 117 American, European and Afghan service members and civilians, and that they are ready to continue investigating in cases where more evidence is need to try the men. |
| One of the detainees was caught planting a hidden bomb and was linked by biometric evidence to other bomb attacks that killed two Afghan soldiers, the officials said. Another is alleged to have trained and deployed teenage boys for suicide attacks. A third placed a hidden bomb outside a school, killing a student, the officials said. | One of the detainees was caught planting a hidden bomb and was linked by biometric evidence to other bomb attacks that killed two Afghan soldiers, the officials said. Another is alleged to have trained and deployed teenage boys for suicide attacks. A third placed a hidden bomb outside a school, killing a student, the officials said. |
| Both the Afghan defense officials and the Americans argued that under the deal that transferred control of the prison, the commission did not have the authority to order the releases over the objection of the coalition and the intelligence service, which is supposed to make a recommendation on each case. | Both the Afghan defense officials and the Americans argued that under the deal that transferred control of the prison, the commission did not have the authority to order the releases over the objection of the coalition and the intelligence service, which is supposed to make a recommendation on each case. |
| The commission “has exceeded its mandate and ordered the release of a number of dangerous individuals who are legitimate threats and for whom there is strong evidence supporting prosecution or further investigation,” said Col. David Lapan, a spokesman for American forces in Afghanistan. | The commission “has exceeded its mandate and ordered the release of a number of dangerous individuals who are legitimate threats and for whom there is strong evidence supporting prosecution or further investigation,” said Col. David Lapan, a spokesman for American forces in Afghanistan. |
| An Afghan defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of crossing Mr. Karzai, was blunter: “We are not happy at all. They turn into war heroes once they go back to their villages and join the fight against Afghans,” the official said. “Releasing the prisoners is harming us.” | An Afghan defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of crossing Mr. Karzai, was blunter: “We are not happy at all. They turn into war heroes once they go back to their villages and join the fight against Afghans,” the official said. “Releasing the prisoners is harming us.” |
| One of the men due to be released, Salman Khan, was detained in May by coalition forces, who said they caught him hiding a bomb in Zhare District, an area of southern Afghanistan that thousands of American and Afghan troops fought to clear of Taliban in recent years, the American military official said. | One of the men due to be released, Salman Khan, was detained in May by coalition forces, who said they caught him hiding a bomb in Zhare District, an area of southern Afghanistan that thousands of American and Afghan troops fought to clear of Taliban in recent years, the American military official said. |
| Villagers in the district confirmed the American account of the raid, though they said his name was Sallam Khan, not Salman. They insisted that Mr. Khan should be released. Hajji Lala, an elder from Zhare, said that Mr. Khan had been duped by the Taliban into planting the bomb and that he would stay away from the insurgents if he returned. | Villagers in the district confirmed the American account of the raid, though they said his name was Sallam Khan, not Salman. They insisted that Mr. Khan should be released. Hajji Lala, an elder from Zhare, said that Mr. Khan had been duped by the Taliban into planting the bomb and that he would stay away from the insurgents if he returned. |
| American and Afghan defense officials say there is ample evidence of freed insurgents returning to the battlefield. One case cited by Afghan officials was that of Mullah Ghulam Mohammad, who was detained by coalition forces in northern Badghis Province. He was freed last year after pressure from some Afghan officials and has since returned to Badghis, where he now commands an estimated 500 fighters, said Qazi Abdul Rahim Raheen, a member of parliament from the region, citing a briefing by Afghan intelligence officials. | American and Afghan defense officials say there is ample evidence of freed insurgents returning to the battlefield. One case cited by Afghan officials was that of Mullah Ghulam Mohammad, who was detained by coalition forces in northern Badghis Province. He was freed last year after pressure from some Afghan officials and has since returned to Badghis, where he now commands an estimated 500 fighters, said Qazi Abdul Rahim Raheen, a member of parliament from the region, citing a briefing by Afghan intelligence officials. |
| In an indication of the gap between perceptions on the Afghan commission and those held by American and Afghan security officials, the two sides could not agree even on how many cases are in dispute. The Americans said it wants 88 detainees to be held until trial; the commission said the number was 86. | In an indication of the gap between perceptions on the Afghan commission and those held by American and Afghan security officials, the two sides could not agree even on how many cases are in dispute. The Americans said it wants 88 detainees to be held until trial; the commission said the number was 86. |
| “But you know the Americans are sometimes inflating the number of Afghans that need to be detained,” Mr. Dadras said. | “But you know the Americans are sometimes inflating the number of Afghans that need to be detained,” Mr. Dadras said. |
| The conflict is a new blow to the ebbing trust between Mr. Karzai and American officials, who had already expressed anger with the Afghan president’s growing list of demands since he refused in November to complete the security deal he had initially approved. | The conflict is a new blow to the ebbing trust between Mr. Karzai and American officials, who had already expressed anger with the Afghan president’s growing list of demands since he refused in November to complete the security deal he had initially approved. |
| “It does raise concerns if they are not willing to adhere to agreements we made then there is a real trust issue,” the American military official said. “It raises questions about any deal we would enter into.” | “It does raise concerns if they are not willing to adhere to agreements we made then there is a real trust issue,” the American military official said. “It raises questions about any deal we would enter into.” |
| The Americans were not the only ones striking pessimistic notes on Tuesday. Pro-Western Afghan officials who only days earlier had expressed confidence that Mr. Karzai would come around on the security deal, especially as its approval is a prerequisite for the flow of billions of dollars in promised Western aid to Afghanistan, were now saying they were no longer sure what would happen. “Only he knows what is in his head,” said one senior Afghan security official. | The Americans were not the only ones striking pessimistic notes on Tuesday. Pro-Western Afghan officials who only days earlier had expressed confidence that Mr. Karzai would come around on the security deal, especially as its approval is a prerequisite for the flow of billions of dollars in promised Western aid to Afghanistan, were now saying they were no longer sure what would happen. “Only he knows what is in his head,” said one senior Afghan security official. |
| Two Afghan defense officials said that is precisely the aim of those pushing for the prisoner releases. They linked Mr. Dadras to Mr. Karzai’s powerful chief of staff, Abdul Karim Khurram, who is widely seen as pushing the Afghan leader away from the United States. That the releases could help scuttle the troop deal was the point, the officials said. | Two Afghan defense officials said that is precisely the aim of those pushing for the prisoner releases. They linked Mr. Dadras to Mr. Karzai’s powerful chief of staff, Abdul Karim Khurram, who is widely seen as pushing the Afghan leader away from the United States. That the releases could help scuttle the troop deal was the point, the officials said. |
| “One of the main reasons that the president is releasing these prisoners is to pressure the foreigners,” said Gul Padshah Majidi, a lawmaker from Paktia Province, an area of eastern Afghanistan that is thick with Taliban fighters. “The problem with this strategy is that it will reach a point that things will get out of control.” | “One of the main reasons that the president is releasing these prisoners is to pressure the foreigners,” said Gul Padshah Majidi, a lawmaker from Paktia Province, an area of eastern Afghanistan that is thick with Taliban fighters. “The problem with this strategy is that it will reach a point that things will get out of control.” |
Haris Kakar and Jawad Sukhanyar contributed reporting from Kabul, and Taimoor Shah from Kandahar. |