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| Afghanistan frees suspected Taliban prisoners | Afghanistan frees suspected Taliban prisoners |
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| KABUL — Afghanistan freed 65 suspected Taliban prisoners from jail on Thursday, ignoring repeated objections by the U.S. government that the men pose a threat. | KABUL — Afghanistan freed 65 suspected Taliban prisoners from jail on Thursday, ignoring repeated objections by the U.S. government that the men pose a threat. |
| The move could cause further tension between the two countries. | The move could cause further tension between the two countries. |
| The former detainees are part of the 88 men who U.S. and NATO-led troops had arrested in various raids in Afghanistan while hunting the Taliban. The men are accused by foreign troops of allegedly carrying out deadly attacks against the troops and local forces allied with them. | The former detainees are part of the 88 men who U.S. and NATO-led troops had arrested in various raids in Afghanistan while hunting the Taliban. The men are accused by foreign troops of allegedly carrying out deadly attacks against the troops and local forces allied with them. |
| Frustrated over indefinite detentions of its nationals by the foreign troops, Afghanistan’s government, which is in the process of gaining security transition from the Western troops, appointed a board to review the cases of the 88 prisoners held at Bagram jail, renamed Parwan. | Frustrated over indefinite detentions of its nationals by the foreign troops, Afghanistan’s government, which is in the process of gaining security transition from the Western troops, appointed a board to review the cases of the 88 prisoners held at Bagram jail, renamed Parwan. |
| As a sign of protest over the arrest and detention of Afghans at Bagram, President Hamid Karzai recently even publicly called Bagram a “Taliban producing factory.” He also said that there was no trust between him and the United States. | As a sign of protest over the arrest and detention of Afghans at Bagram, President Hamid Karzai recently even publicly called Bagram a “Taliban producing factory.” He also said that there was no trust between him and the United States. |
| U.S. military and politicians have repeatedly urged Karzai to refrain from freeing the men, with one lawmaker calling to cut all developmental aid to Afghanistan as a response until after the next election, when Karzai’s last legal term of office ends. | U.S. military and politicians have repeatedly urged Karzai to refrain from freeing the men, with one lawmaker calling to cut all developmental aid to Afghanistan as a response until after the next election, when Karzai’s last legal term of office ends. |
| In the latest protest and ahead of the releases, a NATO-led force in Afghanistan Wednesday night said, “detainees from this group of 65 are directly linked to attacks, killing or wounding 32 U.S. or coalition personnel and 23 Afghan security personnel or civilians.” | In the latest protest and ahead of the releases, a NATO-led force in Afghanistan Wednesday night said, “detainees from this group of 65 are directly linked to attacks, killing or wounding 32 U.S. or coalition personnel and 23 Afghan security personnel or civilians.” |
| But Afghan government officials and Abdul Shokoor Dadras, a senior member of the review board said the cases of the 65 were thoroughly reviewed by various government groups and there was no evidence against them. | But Afghan government officials and Abdul Shokoor Dadras, a senior member of the review board said the cases of the 65 were thoroughly reviewed by various government groups and there was no evidence against them. |
| “That is why they were freed today and are on the way to their homes,” Dadras said. “Legally, we have no right to hold these people and we are studying the cases of the rest of the prisoners to see which one deserves to be punished and which one needs to be freed.” | “That is why they were freed today and are on the way to their homes,” Dadras said. “Legally, we have no right to hold these people and we are studying the cases of the rest of the prisoners to see which one deserves to be punished and which one needs to be freed.” |
| In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul blasted the move, saying the Afghan government “bears responsibility” for the results of the decision. | |
| “Among those released today are individuals who are responsible for, or contributed to, the deaths of Afghan security force personnel, Afghan civilians, and American and other coalition personnel,” the statement said. “We requested a thorough review of each case. Instead, the evidence against them was never seriously considered. “ | “Among those released today are individuals who are responsible for, or contributed to, the deaths of Afghan security force personnel, Afghan civilians, and American and other coalition personnel,” the statement said. “We requested a thorough review of each case. Instead, the evidence against them was never seriously considered. “ |
| Repeating concerns expressed earlier in the week by Marine General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Thursday the release violated an agreement they made with Karzai’s government in 2012. | Repeating concerns expressed earlier in the week by Marine General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Thursday the release violated an agreement they made with Karzai’s government in 2012. |
| “We urge it to make every effort to ensure that those released do not commit new acts of violence and terror, and to immediately bring to justice any who do so,” the embassy said. | “We urge it to make every effort to ensure that those released do not commit new acts of violence and terror, and to immediately bring to justice any who do so,” the embassy said. |
| But an Afghan presidential spokesman said the release was lawful. | But an Afghan presidential spokesman said the release was lawful. |
| “The decision is in compliance to Afghan legal system,” a presidential palace spokesperson said in an email when asked to comment about the growing demands by U.S. officials to not free those detainees and a call by a U.S. senator to halt development aid to Kabul until arrival of new government. | “The decision is in compliance to Afghan legal system,” a presidential palace spokesperson said in an email when asked to comment about the growing demands by U.S. officials to not free those detainees and a call by a U.S. senator to halt development aid to Kabul until arrival of new government. |
| Thursday’s releases will be a major blow in the ties between Karzai and Washington, who have been at odds for years over war strategy and political matters, among other issues. | Thursday’s releases will be a major blow in the ties between Karzai and Washington, who have been at odds for years over war strategy and political matters, among other issues. |
| Karzai, the Afghan leader since U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban in 2001, has refused to sign a Bilateral Security Agreement with the U.S. that will extend presence of American troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014 unless his two key conditions are met. | Karzai, the Afghan leader since U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban in 2001, has refused to sign a Bilateral Security Agreement with the U.S. that will extend presence of American troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014 unless his two key conditions are met. |
| Worried about his legacy and considered by the Taliban and even some ordinary Afghans as a stooge of the U.S., Karzai wants the United States to use its influence to bring peace in Afghanistan and to halt all raids on homes of Afghans before he signs the agreement. | Worried about his legacy and considered by the Taliban and even some ordinary Afghans as a stooge of the U.S., Karzai wants the United States to use its influence to bring peace in Afghanistan and to halt all raids on homes of Afghans before he signs the agreement. |
| There were mixed reaction from ordinary Afghans about the releases. Some hailed the move while othersshowed fear and dismay. | There were mixed reaction from ordinary Afghans about the releases. Some hailed the move while othersshowed fear and dismay. |
| A security analyst and former general, Javid Kohistani, said Karzai’s aim for freeing the 65 detainees was to “prompt the Taliban to start talks with his government or get their support to vote for his favorite in the presidential election.” | A security analyst and former general, Javid Kohistani, said Karzai’s aim for freeing the 65 detainees was to “prompt the Taliban to start talks with his government or get their support to vote for his favorite in the presidential election.” |
| Amina Zia Massoud, daughter of a vice presidential hopeful, on social media called the freed men as dangerous. | Amina Zia Massoud, daughter of a vice presidential hopeful, on social media called the freed men as dangerous. |
| “Taliban criminals who are released always restore back to fighting,” she tweeted. | “Taliban criminals who are released always restore back to fighting,” she tweeted. |
| Another said the releases was essential to show Afghanistan’s national sovereignty and that holding people for years without trial was a crime in itself. | Another said the releases was essential to show Afghanistan’s national sovereignty and that holding people for years without trial was a crime in itself. |
| The Taliban have yet to comment about the releases. But the militants recently said inmates at government run jails were treated as badly as they were by U.S. | The Taliban have yet to comment about the releases. But the militants recently said inmates at government run jails were treated as badly as they were by U.S. |
| Right groups in the past have voiced their objections about the without trial detentions at Bagram. | Right groups in the past have voiced their objections about the without trial detentions at Bagram. |
| Tim Craig contributed to this report. | Tim Craig contributed to this report. |