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."
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 IsmaelQasimyar 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.
That
policy continues. Some Taliban commanders have been released. Figures like FazilMazlom, 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.