U.S. releases 4 Afghans from Guantanamo, Four more Afghans have been returned to their home country from the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba as President Obama continues his effort to close the 13-year-old facility.
The repatriation brings to 132 the number of detainees remaining at the Department of Defense prison.
In its statement on the release, the Pentagon thanked the Afghan government "for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts" to close the facility.
"The United States coordinated with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures," it said.
On Friday, a day before the transfers were announced, Obama signed the annual Pentagon authorization bill but included a statement regarding his opposition to keeping Guantanamo open:
Earlier this month, the Department of Defense transferred the last remaining third-country nationals held in U.S. custody in Afghanistan, ending U.S. detention operations in Afghanistan. Yet halfway around the world, the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, remains open for the 13th consecutive year, costing the American people hundreds of millions of dollars each year and undermining America's standing in the world.
As I have said many times, the continued operation of this detention facility weakens our national security by draining resources, damaging our relationships with key allies and partners, and emboldening violent extremists. Closing the detention facility is a national imperative.
The four prisoners transferred to Afghanistan were identified as Shawali Khan, Khi Ali Gul, Abdul Ghani and Mohammed Zahir.
