US embassy in Afghanistan welcome the decision of the Afghan government to postpone the responsibilities of the Bagram prison.

Bagram prison located in northern Kabul and is under the control of US troops which was due to be handed over over to Afghan security forces based on a one month ultimatum by Afghan president Hamid Karzai that was completed a few days back.

Afghan President Karzai during a session with the Afghan Judiciary officials decided to extend the ultimatum to another one month.

President Karzai also ordered to recall the prosecutors and investigators from Bagram prison until the government receive the responsibilities from US troops.

US embassy officials in Kabul said, we welcome the decision of Afghan president Hamid Karzai to postpone the responsibilities transition of Bagram prison to Afghan security forces and we will work jointly with the Afghan government to implement the transition program.

The officials further added, we will continue to our work based on international regulations to transfer Bagram prisoners to Afghan prisons.

The officials however did not provide further details if the United States was prepared to hand over the Bagram prison to Afghanistan at the specified time but said that negotiations are in process.

Afghan government officials said, detainees transfer from Bagram prison to Afghan prisons was due to start in 2011 and is supposed to be completed by the end of 2012, based on an agreement around 2 years ago.

According to reports, around 2,000 prisoners with the majority of Taliban detainees are kept in Bagram prison.

In the meantime some reports suggest that around 230 prisoners have already been transferred to Afghan prisons.

On the other hand there are growing concerns that the Taliban detainees will flee from Afghan cells as they have fled in the past.

There are also fears that the Afghan government will free Taliban detainees as part of the reconciliation process with the armed militants groups in Afghanistan.

Author


  • Ahmad Shah Ghani Zada is the former Senior Editor of Khaama Press Agency who managed and overlooked the English edition. He is occasionally contributing stories to the agency.