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March 26, 2013

U.S. to Keep Unknown Number of Afghan Prisoners After Bagram Transfer 
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The United States has formally handed control of Bagram Prison to
Afghanistan following more than a year of delays. The detention center
has been dubbed "the other Guantánamo" after reports of prisoners being
tortured and abused there. The exact terms of the transfer deal remain
shadowy, but the United States has reportedly received assurances from
Afghan officials they will not release prisoners deemed to pose a
security threat. The United States will continue to play a role in
determining which prisoners are released and will maintain custody of
some unknown number of Afghan prisoners and about three dozen non-Afghan
prisoners. At Monday's ceremony, U.S. General Joseph Dunford, commander
of NATO forces in Afghanistan, stressed the enduring U.S. role there.

Gen. Joseph Dunford: "This ceremony to transfer the detention facility
is important, and it's meaningful. But what's most significant is it's
part of a broader political and security transition process. It's a
small step towards a transformation that will occur in the years ahead.
And let there be no doubt: Transformation, for those that wear the
uniform of the United States, does not mean the end of the mission or
abandonment. Our mission is changing, but our commitment is enduring."

Within hours of the transfer, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry
appeared alongside Afghan President Hamid Karzai during an unannounced
visit to Afghanistan. He said the Bagram deal protects both U.S.
interests and Afghan sovereignty.

John Kerry: "As of today, we don't have prisoners. Whatever is occurring
here is under the control of the Afghan people, and the United States
will cooperate with the government of Afghanistan."

 

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