Off topic -- Afghan Gov't Frees Taliban Prisoners
February 9, 2002
Afghan Gov't Frees Taliban Prisoners
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 12:09 p.m. ET
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The Afghan government released 320 captured
Taliban fighters Saturday, a gesture of reconciliation as the new administration
focuses on rebuilding a country shattered by decades of war.
In a brief speech before shivering prisoners lined up in the freezing weather on a
field in front of the presidential palace, Interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai told
the men to go back to their homes.
``Instead of using guns, work and earn money,'' he said.
All of the men wore civilian clothing. Most appeared desperately poor and wore
sandals or cheap plastic shoes. One wore plastic bags on his feet instead of
socks.
Karzai said the men were ``innocent conscripts,'' but gave no details about when
or where the men were captured. Most of the men appeared to be speaking
Pashtu with accents from the area of Kandahar, the Taliban spiritual heartland.
``I ask you to serve your country,'' Karzai said. ``Go, go. Goodbye.''
Karzai did not say how many Taliban prisoners are still being held, but vowed
that captured soldiers who were not in command positions would be released.
One of the prisoners demanded to know when the other fighters would be freed.
``Our other friends are in prison,'' he called out to Karzai. ``What will you do with
them?''
``We will release all the prisoners,'' Karzai replied.
Each of the soldiers was given 500,000 Afghanis, equivalent to $15, or about two
weeks salary for an average civil servant.
In January, 300 Taliban prisoners were also freed, some of whom had been held
for up to five years by the anti-Taliban northern alliance.
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press |
