Afghans receive dangerous detainees

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

10.09.2008

Story by Chief Petty Officer Shawn Graham 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

By Petty Officer 1st Class Shawn Graham
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan — A group of 29 detainees from the Bagram Theater Internment Facility were transferred to the Afghan National Detention Facility in Kabul, Oct. 9, 2008.

With mentoring from the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, ANDF leadership routinely oversee transfers of Afghan detainees from both the Bagram facility and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Army Master Sgt. Jametta Bland, senior non-commissioned officer-in-charge of detainee operations, said that the Afghans are leading the operations and have conducted incident-free detainee transports since the program's inception.

"We have trained and mentored them on the proper way to treat and care for detainees," said Bland. "They show the detainees a lot of respect. In less than two years, Afghan national army soldiers have been transformed into competent and reliable guards."

The CSTC-A military personnel mentored the Afghan national army leadership on detention security guard procedures. ANDF guards were also taught human rights responsibilities, Afghan penitentiary regulations, and laws and policies for prisons and detention centers.

Afghan national army Col. Mahmoud Shah, battalion commander of the ANDF guard force, praised the guards for paying close attention to the transfers and treating the detainees with respect.

"We put our training to good use inside the prison and during the transfers," said Shah. "Safety is important to everyone. The safety of the detainees is as important as our guards. They are our countrymen and our responsibility."

According to CSTC-A personnel, humane treatment of the detainees never waivers, even though all of the detainees are suspected of insurgent activities and Taliban involvement.

Army Lt. Col. David Koonce, director for detainee operations, said the detainee's ethical and humane treatment by the guards is the benchmark to the program's success.

"Afghans are excelling in detainee operations," said Koonce. "The guards ensure that people are treated fairly and humanely. It is the only way to conduct business. The Afghan national army soldiers are good at what they do and I expect them to be operating this facility independently in less than a year."

This is the 18th detainee transfer conducted between the Bagram Theater Internment Facility and the ANDF. Once a detainee is transferred from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, or the Bagram Theater Internment Facility, the Afghan government takes responsibility for the continued detention, prosecution, and/or release of the detainee. The ANDF guards are currently responsible for the custody of over 300 detainees.

• Date Taken: 10.09.2008
• Date Posted: 10.13.2008 13:16
• Story ID: 24904
• Location: KABUL, AF