AfghanistanU.S. concerned about Karzai’s plan to release dozens of militants

Afgan president Hamid Karzaihas decided to release imprisoned militants // Source: presstv.ir

Just a few months after American officials transferred control of all detention operations in Afghanistan to Afghan forces, President Hamid Karzai’s administration has decided to release dozens of prisoners, despite objection from American and Afghan officials. The New York Times reports that the list of prisoners includes insurgents who have attacked, and are still committed to attacking, Americans. The decision comes after Karzai refused to sign a long-term security agreement with American officials. Officials who support the proposed security deal are concerned that the mass release of militants could lead to a complete coalition withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014.

Prior to handing over all detention operations to Afghan forces, American officials were concerned about a mass release of prisoners, but Karzai assured these officials that security would be maintained. The releases have not been finalized. The Afghan commission tasked with reviewing detainee cases at the military prison near Bagram Air Base, is planning to release more than eighty prisoners. “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.”

Abdul Shakor Dadras, a member of the three-man commission, insists that there is no real evidence against any of the men, who are among 650 prisoners ordered to be released.

Both Afghan and American officials argued that under the deal to transfer the control of detention centers, the commission did not have the authority to release prisoners over the objection of coalition and Afghan intelligence services. 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 Karzai, was more direct: “We are not happy at all. They turn into war heroes once they go back to their villages and join the fight against Afghans. Releasing the prisoners is harming us.”

American and Afghan defense officials cite evidence of freed militants who return to the battlefield. One case was that of Mullah Ghulam Mohammad, who was freed last year after being detained by coalition forces. Upon his release, Mohammad returned to his place of capture, northern Badghis Province, where he now commands about 500 fighters, according to Qazi Abdul Rahim Raheen, a member of Parliament from the region, citing a briefing by Afghan intelligence officials.

Pro-western Afghan officials who were once confident that Karzai would sign the security agreement with the United States, are now uncertain about the likelihood of a security agreement. “Only he knows what is in his head,” said one senior Afghan security official.