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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Afghanistan frees suspected Taliban prisoners | Afghanistan frees suspected Taliban prisoners |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| KABUL — Afghanistan freed 65 suspected Taliban prisoners from jail Thursday, ignoring repeated warnings by the U.S. government that the men pose a threat. | |
| The move could worsen tensions between leaders of the two countries, who have been at odds for years over war strategy, political matters and other issues. | |
| The former detainees are part of a group of 88 men whom U.S. and NATO-led troops had arrested in raids while hunting the Taliban. They are accused of carrying out deadly attacks against foreign troops and local forces allied with them, and were being held indefinitely at the former U.S. military prison at Bagram, which has been transferred to Afghan control and renamed Parwan. | |
| Afghanistan’s government, which is negotiating a way to transition authority over security matters from Western to Afghan troops, appointed a board to review the cases of the 88 prisoners. | Afghanistan’s government, which is negotiating a way to transition authority over security matters from Western to Afghan troops, appointed a board to review the cases of the 88 prisoners. |
| U.S. military officials and politicians have repeatedly urged President Hamid Karzai not to free the men, with one lawmaker threatening to cut all developmental aid to Afghanistan until after the next election, when Karzai’s last legal term of office ends. | U.S. military officials and politicians have repeatedly urged President Hamid Karzai not to free the men, with one lawmaker threatening to cut all developmental aid to Afghanistan until after the next election, when Karzai’s last legal term of office ends. |
| “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,” a statement from the NATO-led force said Wednesday night, ahead of the releases. | |
| 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. 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. 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.” | In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul blasted the move, saying the Afghan government “bears responsibility.” |
| “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 embassy 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 embassy statement said. “We requested a thorough review of each case. Instead, the evidence against them was never seriously considered.” |
| Coalition commanders expressed particular concern over the release of Mohammad Wali, whom they called a “Taliban weapons expert,” and Nek Mohammad, who has been linked to rocket attacks on coalition soldiers. They also noted that several of the released militants are aligned with the Haqqani network, which has carried out numerous attacks on U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan. | |
| U.S. officials said the release violated an agreement they made with Karzai’s government in 2012. | U.S. officials said 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 and “in compliance to Afghan legal system.” | But an Afghan presidential spokesman said the release was lawful and “in compliance to Afghan legal system.” |
| Karzai, who came to power after U.S.-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban in 2001, has refused to sign a Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States unless two key conditions are met. The agreement would extend the presence of American troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014. | |
| Worried about his legacy and considered by the Taliban and even some ordinary Afghans as a stooge of the United States, Karzai wants the United States to use its influence to bring peace in Afghanistan and to halt all raids on the homes of Afghans before he signs the agreement. | |
| Karzai recently called the prison at Bagram a “Taliban producing factory,” saying that the men held there indefinitely were only likely to become more radicalized against the West. He also said that there was no trust between him and the United States. | Karzai recently called the prison at Bagram a “Taliban producing factory,” saying that the men held there indefinitely were only likely to become more radicalized against the West. He also said that there was no trust between him and the United States. |
| There was mixed reaction to the releases among Afghan citizens and officials. Some hailed the move, while others showed fear and dismay. | There was mixed reaction to the releases among Afghan citizens and officials. Some hailed the move, while others showed fear and dismay. |
| Javid Kohistani, a security analyst and former general, said Karzai’s aim in freeing the 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, called the freed men dangerous in a Twitter post. “Taliban criminals who are released always restore back to fighting,” she wrote. | |
| But some people said the release was an important way to demonstrate Afghanistan’s sovereignty and added that holding people for years without trial was a crime in itself. Right groups in the past have voiced their objections about the detentions without trial at Bagram. | |
| The Taliban has yet to comment about the releases. | The Taliban has yet to comment about the releases. |
| Tim Craig contributed to this report. | Tim Craig contributed to this report. |