Released Afghan prisoners pose threat to NATO and civilians - US

The United States warned Thursday that the 65 alleged Taliban militants released from prison without trial by the Afghan government posed a threat not only to NATO and Afghan troops, but also to Afghan civilians. "Many of these men who have been released, their primary weapon of choice has been the IED, which of course poses not just a threat to coalition forces and Afghan forces, but also Afghan civilians," said Marie Harf, a spokeswoman at the US State Department in Washington. The US believes that some of the individuals previously released from the Bagram prison already "returned to the fight" and that the new releases could continue to "fill the ranks of the insurgency," Harf said. The US has repeatedly called for all prisoners detained by NATO forces to be prosecuted in the Afghan court system and under Afghan law.

The United States has harshly criticised Afghanistan's release of 65 alleged Taliban fighters from jail, saying it was "a deeply regrettable" decision that could lead to further violence in the war-torn country. "The Afghan government bears responsibility for the results of its decision," the US embassy said. "We urge it to make every effort to ensure that those released do not commit new acts of violence and terror."