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U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl: His release in exchange for five senior

Taliban has unleashed a firestorm of recrimination among Americans and

Afghans. This editorial from Outlook Afghanistan points out that President

Karzai's countless releases of Taliban have so far, at least, done little good.

 

 

Obama Mimics Karzai Strategy of Freeing Taliban (Outlook Afghanistan, Afghanistan)

 

"Kabul long ago embarked on a policy of releasing Taliban prisoners. Hundreds have been released from Bagram prison. Yet no one knows of their whereabouts, and no one takes responsibility for what they have done - kill soldiers and innocent civilians. Meanwhile, Pakistan was also asked to release prisoners. Regardless of the consequences, Afghan officials have measured Islamabad’s sincerity based on its release of Taliban prisoners."

 

EDITORIAL

 

June 4, 2014

 

Afghanistan - Outlook Afghanistan - Original Article (English)

President Obama, at a press conference with Poland Presidnet Komorowski, explains that in the United States, we leave no sodier behind - 'period.'

BBC NEWS VIDEO, U.K.: President Obama: 'We Don't Leave Soldiers Behind', June 3, 00:02:07RealVideo

The United States has finally yielded and freed top Taliban commanders in exchange for an American soldier held by Taliban militants. The U.S. thanked Qatar for its efforts, and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said they were released because the life of the U.S. soldier was in danger.

 

The Afghan government also welcomed the move. Spokesman to the High Peace Council Ismael Qasimyar hoped their release would lead to a reopening of the Taliban political office in Qatar, which was closed after the Afghan government expressed severe criticism. At the time, Kabul said that foreign countries wanted to hem the Afghan government in by reaching peace deals with Taliban militants without the group first resolving its domestic problem.

 

The surprising thing is that Kabul never loses hope of making a peace deal even as the Taliban continuously reject even sitting at the table with government representatives. Indirectly, President Karzai even promised senior political posts to Taliban leaders. Yet up to now, the group has made nothing but a mockery of the offer.

 

Similarly, to prove its sincerity in terms of a peace deal or perhaps to get the Taliban leadership's attention to resume talks, Kabul long ago embarked on a policy of releasing Taliban prisoners. Hundreds have been released from Bagram prison. Yet no one knows of their whereabouts, and no one takes responsibility for what they have done - kill soldiers and innocent civilians. Meanwhile, Pakistan was also asked to release prisoners. Regardless of the consequences, Afghan officials have measured Islamabad’s sincerity based on its release of Taliban prisoners.

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That policy continues. Some Taliban commanders have been released. Figures like Fazil Mazlom, responsible for massacre of Hazaras, is now a worry to the people. Yet the government appears pleased over illusionary things that will never be realized. The release of such people is a major success for the Taliban, but indeed, not the Afghan government.

 

In all likelihood, Washington has become tired of Kabul. Hopefully, particularly since all the key figures have already been released, the Afghan government will stop pushing for more.

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Afghanistan Times, Afghanistan: Gitmo Prisoner Exchange an 'Absurd Act of Deception'
BBC News, U.K.: Taliban's Mullah Omar Celebrates Prisoner-Swap
Afghanistan Times, Afghanistan: Obama Visit 'Annoys and Insults' Afghans
Afghanistan Times, Afghanistan: Karzai is Right - the Taliban are in the Service of U.S.
Asia Times, Hong Kong: Karzai's Curious Counterblast
Die Zeit, Germany: Unwarranted Pessimism Over Leaving Afghanistan
The Nation, Pakistan: U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan: 'Please Don't Wait Until 2014!'
FTD, Germany: The Beginning of the End for the Bundeswehr in Afghanistan
The Nation, Pakistan: U.S.-Afghan-Taliban Talks Must Benefit Pakistan, Not India
Guardian, U.K.: U.S. Suspends Joint Military Operations with Afghan Forces

Telegraph, U.K.: Taliban Hit U.S.- U.K. Afghan Base; 'Miss' Prince Harry

The Independent, U.K.: Obama's Foreign Policy of Reconciliation in 'Tatters'

Frontier Post, Pakistan: Obama's Drone War a PR Disaster for America

Der Spiegel, Germany: President of Dissapointment: How Obama Failed to Deliver

Frontier Post, Pakistan: Panetta Spills Beans: U.S. Handing Afghanistan to India
Thawra Al-Wada, Syria: Middle East Borders to Be Drawn in Arab Blood
Tunis Hebdo, Tunisia: A Method to Bush's Madness?
The Frontier Post: Co-opted U.S. Media Will Always Blame Pakistan
The Frontier Post: Just Say 'Thank You' to Cut in American Aid
The Frontier Post: Letter to A.Q. Khan Resembles CIA Iraq War Forgery
Guardian, U.K.: Pakistani Generals 'Helped Sell Nuclear Secrets'
Guardian, U.K.: Pakistan Hits Back at Mullen Over Journalist's Murder Claim
Dawn, Pakistan: Even if U.S. Nuclear Accusations are True, Pakistan Broke No Law
Asia Times, Hong Kong: America Homes in on al-Qaeda's New Chief
The Nation, Pakistan: CIA Chief Panetta Says Zawahiri Living in Pakistan
The Frontier Post, Pakistan: Obama Withdrawal Plans 'Spell Doom' for Pakistan
The Frontier Post, Pakistan: Karzai Finally Awakens to American Treachery
The Daily Jang, Pakistan: The Beginning of the End of U.S. in Afghanistan?

 

 

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Posted By Worldmeets.US June 4, 2014 1:09am