Report: US Secret Program Illegally Releasing Militants in Afghanistan
Local Editor
A US Secret program was exposed by the Washington post on Monday. The newspaper published a report revealing that the US has been illegally releasing high-level prisoners from a military detention center in Afghanistan in a move to bargain with Afghan insurgents.
Secret U.S. program releases high-level insurgents in exchange for pledges of peace
According to the report, the "strategic release" program has quietly served as a live diplomatic channel, allowing American officials to use prisoners as "bargaining chips" in restive provinces where military power has reached its limits.
The freed detainees are often notorious militants who would not be released under the "traditional legal system" for military prisoners in Afghanistan. They are asked to promise they will not attack American troops.
"Everyone agrees they are guilty of what they have done and should remain in detention. Everyone agrees that these are bad guys. But the benefits outweigh the risks," said one US official who, like others, discussed the issue on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the program.
The report adds that US officials would not say how many detainees have been released under the program. Also, the program has existed for several years, but officials would not confirm exactly when it was established.
In 2001,US-led forces invaded Afghanistan. Since then, insecurity is on the rise despite the presence of tens of thousands of US troops who remain in Afghan territories under the pretext of maintaining security and stability.
Source: Washington Post, edited by moqawama.org
A US Secret program was exposed by the Washington post on Monday. The newspaper published a report revealing that the US has been illegally releasing high-level prisoners from a military detention center in Afghanistan in a move to bargain with Afghan insurgents.
Secret U.S. program releases high-level insurgents in exchange for pledges of peaceAccording to the report, the "strategic release" program has quietly served as a live diplomatic channel, allowing American officials to use prisoners as "bargaining chips" in restive provinces where military power has reached its limits.
The freed detainees are often notorious militants who would not be released under the "traditional legal system" for military prisoners in Afghanistan. They are asked to promise they will not attack American troops.
"Everyone agrees they are guilty of what they have done and should remain in detention. Everyone agrees that these are bad guys. But the benefits outweigh the risks," said one US official who, like others, discussed the issue on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the program.
The report adds that US officials would not say how many detainees have been released under the program. Also, the program has existed for several years, but officials would not confirm exactly when it was established.
In 2001,US-led forces invaded Afghanistan. Since then, insecurity is on the rise despite the presence of tens of thousands of US troops who remain in Afghan territories under the pretext of maintaining security and stability.
Source: Washington Post, edited by moqawama.org
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