Afghan government may release some foreign prisoners

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan authorities are considering releasing hundreds of foreign prisoners, many of them suspected al-Qaida fighters, but those guarding them argue the men are still dangerous terrorists who should remain behind bars.

In the basement of the intelligence ministry building in Kabul, some 50 bearded prisoners sit barefoot, up to seven to a room, reading the Quran and praying. Most are Pakistanis; a few are from neighboring Tajikistan.

Each traveled to Afghanistan last year, but their reasons are varied and vague. None bothered to bring a passport, and all were eventually captured by northern alliance troops in the wake of the U.S. bombing campaign that ousted the Taliban.

Few, if any, admit fighting.

"We were bringing private aid from the people of Pakistan. I brought medicines for ordinary Afghan people who were being attacked," said 20-year-old Mohammad Alam, one of five prisoners in a tiny room at the jail Saturday.

Over 2,500 in jail

Lal Agha, a northern alliance commander in charge of the detention center, quickly dismisses such accounts.

"They're all al-Qaida who came to fight in Afghanistan," Agha said. "They all had weapons. Some of these people were fighting in Kunduz even after the Taliban surrendered."

The government has yet to give an exact count of how many foreigners have been captured, but Caroline Douilliez, a spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said Afghanistan's jails house at least 2,500 foreign detainees from 30 different countries. Another 70 foreigners were also being held at U.S. jails in Bagram and Kandahar, she said.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Alberto Fernandez said the U.S. had no comment on the issue, calling the prisoners' fate "a decision of the Afghan government."

A U.S. diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the remaining prisoners were small fry. "They may be extremists in their views, but ... no one considers these important people," he said.

Foreign Minister Abdullah said the fate of the prisoners would be decided on a case-by-case basis. Those with no known links to terrorists and who have not been accused of human rights violations would likely be released on "humanitarian" grounds.

Plan may backfire

Abdullah said a group of prisoners would probably be handed over to Pakistani authorities "in a few days" in the "interest of relations between the two nations."

A senior intelligence officer admitted that releasing the men might promote reconciliation, but he warned it could backfire.

"They still consider Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden as their leaders," the intelligence official said, on condition of anonymity. "They know how to use explosives, how to kill, how to sabotage, how to kidnap. They're highly trained.

"I don't think the government has bad intentions," the intelligence official said. "But what they don't understand is what they can do if they are set free."