US prisoner-swap with Taliban kicks up row
The controversial release of five prominent Taliban leaders to secure the freedom of one low-ranking American soldier has highlighted the increasing tensions between the US and Afghanistan and underlined deep divisions within the political establishment in Washington, DC. This past Saturday, Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for five years, was released to the US military in exchange for Taliban commanders detained at the US prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The deal was mediated by Qatar which has since taken custody of the Taliban leaders who are not to be allowed out of that country for a year. The prisoner swap has infuriated the Afghan Government, which was kept out of the loop. Also, Kabul has argued that the handing over of the Taliban commanders, who are all Afghan citizens, to Qatar, is a violation of international law. The successful swap stands in stark contrast to the Afghan-Taliban peace process that has failed to take off. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has sought to reconcile with the Taliban, urging them to renounce their violent ways and join the mainstream democratic political process. But the Islamists have refused — they are still hoping to take back power once the drawdown of the Nato forces is complete. Their desire to set up a parallel state was exposed last year when the Taliban opened an office, dressed up as a foreign embassy, in the Qatari capital of Doha. The office was shut down but only officially. Taliban leaders still work out of that building, and they were present in good number on Sunday to welcome their colleagues freed from Guantanamo Bay. In this context, the deal reiterates presumptions about the US negotiating with the Taliban without taking the Afghans (or their interests) into consideration.
Back in Washington, the deal was criticised by Republicans on several counts: It tantamounts to capitulating before hostage-takers and encouraging other terrorists to hold Americans hostage. Also, US law prohibits such exchanges with terrorists, but President Obama seems to have skirted the issue by bringing Qatar into the picture. Second, Republicans leaders argue, the price paid to free Sgt Bergdahl was too high. According to American assessments, all Taliban leaders pose a threat to US interests. It is unclear what steps the Obama Administration may have taken to diminish some of those risks. let's not forget that the last time a senior Taliban official was released from Guantanamo Bay, in 2007, he returned to Afghanistan and became director of military operations. Third, many believe that Sgt Bergdahl did not deserve to be freed as he had walked off his base, dissatisfied with American action in Afghanistan. Finally, Republican leaders are upset that the President did not given Congress the 30-day notice necessary for releasing Guantanamo Bay prisoners. The President can waive the requirement in time-sensitive cases, but he needs to explain if this deal qualified as special.