NATO-run jails exist in Kandahar, Helmand: probe

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Appointed by President Karzai, a probe team on Saturday claimed NATO-controlled prisons not only existed on the Kandahar Airfield but also on a base in southern Helmand province.

Afghan Military Police commander Gen. Ghulam Farooq Barekzai, the Review Board on Bagram Jail head Abdul Shakoor Dadras and some other high ranking government officials are part of the investigation team.

The team was created last week under a presidential decree to probe into the alleged presence of a US-run jail on the Kandahar Air Field.

The team that arrived in Kandahar City last week also travelled to neighbouring Helmand province as part of their investigation into the alleged presence of NATO-run jails.  

Dadras told reporters in Kandahar City that American and British troops ran prisons in Kandahar and Helmand. He said it was about five days ago when they were able to investigate about the presence of a US-run jail on the Kandahar Airfield with cooperation from the provincial administration.

He said they were busy investigating in Kandahar when received orders to probe the alleged presence of another NATO-controlled prison in Helmand.

When they reached the Shorab Military Base in Helmand, Dadras said they found British troops had set up a prison there.

He said the existence of such jails were in violation of presidential decrees and the Afghan law.  However, he did not provide any figures about prisoners held in such jails. Dadras said the number of NATO-controlled in the two provinces were more than one or two.

He said they would not release further details about their probe to the media until it was complete and a report sent to the Presidential Palace. He said prisoners languishing in NATO jails were said to be Taliban commanders and fighters.

He said there were no foreigner among the detainees and all of them were Afghans, but gave no specific numbers. He said their mandate was to investigate the number of prisons, prisoners, their crimes, transfer and deciding their fate.

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