Pentagon Condemns Afghan Release of Bagram Detainees

By Amaani Lyle

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2014 – An Afghan government order to release 37 of 88 detainees who U.S. Defense Department leaders have deemed to be legitimate threats to national security drew condemnation from a Pentagon spokesman today.

Army Col. Steve Warren said strong evidence or investigative leads support the detainees’ prosecution or further investigation.

A special government panel called the Afghan Review Board, or ARB, ordered that the 37 detainees be released from the Afghan-supervised detention facility at Bagram Airfield.

“ARB is releasing dangerous insurgents, and the [United States] has provided extensive information and evidence on each of these 88 detainees,” Warren said. “We strongly condemn the extrajudicial release of these detainees.”

Warren also noted that of the 37 detainees, 17 are linked to the production of or attacks using improvised explosive devices, three participated in or had knowledge of direct attacks wounding or killing 11 Afghan national security forces members, and four participated in or had knowledge of direct attacks wounding or killing 42 U.S. or coalition service members.

The colonel described the detainees as “bad guys” and “individuals with U.S., coalition and Afghan blood on their hands.”