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BY JASMINE BAILEY
The U.S. handed over control of the controversial Bagram prison to Afghanistan Monday. Often
referred to as Afghanistan’s Guantanamo — Bagram houses more than 4,000 Taliban
leaders, commanders and soldiers.
“The facility near the Bagram airbase has been a thorny issue to say the least between
the two countries. There have been many allegations of prisoner abuse there. The prison is right
now known as the Afghan National Detention facility.” (Via CNN)
The Telegraph points out — the handover is symbolic for both countries. Especially
since Bagram was the last Afghan prison under U.S. control.
“It is seen as emblematic of America’s power in Afghanistan and has become a central
pillar of President Hamid Karzai’s struggle to regain control of key matters...”
That struggle was fueled last March when the U.S. agreed to turn over more than 3,000 prisoners
— even holding a transfer ceremony.
But those plans fell through when the U.S. feared certain inmates would be released if
the prison was handed over.(Via The Guardian)
“The Americans want assurance that people that they feel are dangerous, if they are
released from jail, that they will not be released into the battlefield…they’re
worried about an Afghan state that has a history of releasing such men.”(Via Al Jazeera)
A fear that was not eased until recently. The transfer to Afghan hands began last spring
and since then more than 1,300 inmates have been released. Secretary of Defense Chuck
Hagel recently spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai about those concerns. According
to a statement:
“The secretary welcomed President Karzai's commitment that the transfer will be carried
out in a way that ensures the safety of the Afghan people and coalition forces by keeping
dangerous individuals detained in a secure and humane manner in accordance with Afghan
law.” (Via U.S. Department of Defense)
American control in the nation is slowly being loosened in preparation for the 2014 troop
withdrawal date — and this is the latest example of that loosening. An American official
told The New York Times:
“It’s all part of the bilateral security agreement; it’s about a shift that’s going
on in how the U.S. is looking at what’s important …We have to look at the larger
picture: What’s the U.S. strategic interest here?”
Although this is representative of the growing independence of the Afghan government — the
BBC says the nation will still partially rely on U.S. support.
“For example the Afghan government does not have an air force so it needs NATO and
American helicopters and planes. Whether that’s transporting troops or calling for air support.”
This recent handover came just hours after the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan — his first since filling that role.