(U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Bendet)
KABUL, Afghanistan – Sixty-five detainees were released from the Afghan National Detention Facility at Parwan today, despite repeated requests from U.S. Forces – Afghanistan and others to consider the hard evidence or strong investigative leads provided to the Afghan Review Board and the attorney general’s office.
The release of these dangerous individuals poses a threat to U.S., coalition and Afghan National Security Forces, as well as the Afghan population. Insurgents in the group released today have killed coalition and Afghan forces.
They have killed Afghan men, women and children. More than two dozen of the individuals released were linked to the production or emplacement of improvised explosive devices, the number one killer of Afghan civilians.
We believe some of the individuals previously released have already returned to the fight. Additional released detainees may continue to fill the ranks of the insurgency. With no legal consequences, these individuals may return to the same criminal behavior that led to their original capture.
U.S. and Afghan forces risked their lives to ensure the safety of the Afghan people. We call upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to consider the potentially lethal effects of today’s releases and its impact on the future security of the Afghan people.
