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January 10, 2014

Karzai Releases Dozens of Prisoners in Defiance of U.S. 
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered the release of 72 prisoners in
defiance of U.S. pressure. The Obama administration says the prisoners
were involved in killing U.S. troops and Afghan civilians, but Karzai
says there is insufficient evidence to warrant their continued
detention. The prisoners' fate is the latest issue to strain U.S.-Afghan
relations amidst Karzai's standoff with the White House over a long-term
security pact. A number of U.S. lawmakers have threatened to cut aid to
Afghanistan over the prisoners' release.

 

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