Afghanistan releases 65 detainees U.S. calls ‘dangerous’

PanARMENIAN.Net - Sixty-five detainees have been released from Afghanistan's Bagram detention centre, a move condemned by the U.S. as "deeply regrettable", according to BBC News.

The U.S. embassy in Kabul said some of those released were responsible for the deaths of Afghan civilians, and Afghan and coalition troops. But Kabul insists there is not enough evidence against the detainees.

Hundreds of prisoners at Bagram jail have been freed since it was put under Afghan control in March last year.

The detainees began to emerge from the prison gates in groups of half a dozen or so on Thursday, Feb 13, morning, the BBC's says.

Some were laughing and smiling as they boarded a bus and taxis to leave the facility, which is now called the Parwan Detention Facility and is about 45km (28 miles) north of Kabul.

In a statement, the U.S. embassy said: "The Government of Afghanistan's decision to release 65 detainees from the Parwan Detention Center is deeply regrettable."

It said that evidence linking those released to serious crimes needed to be considered under Afghan law.

"We requested a thorough review of each case. Instead, the evidence against them was never seriously considered," the embassy said.

Washington says one of the men was captured after being wounded during an attack on Afghan forces.

Others were reportedly arrested carrying weapons including shotguns, assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade-launchers and bomb-making equipment.

The U.S. says there is also other incriminating information from mobile phones, and details of interviews with suspects including confessions.

The embassy said: "The Afghan government bears responsibility for the results of its decision. 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."

According to the UN Security Council's mandate, the U.S.-led international military force in Afghanistan is scheduled to hand over all security duties to Afghan forces before its full withdrawal by the end of 2014.

However, President Karzai has refused to sign a security deal with Washington that would set the final framework for the withdrawal.

The Security and Defense Cooperation Agreement, if signed, could see some 10,000 U.S. troops stay in Afghanistan for a number of years.