Kabul/Islamabad: The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) strongly agrees with the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) on the importance of the humane treatment of detainees in Afghanistan. ISAF is pleased to note that the AIHRC report highlighted the ISAF six-phase program and our proactive response plan that was implemented following the Oct. 10, 2011 UNAMA report.
Four of the facilities listed in this most recent report were previously listed in the earlier UNAMA report and have been enrolled in the ISAF certification program. These include NDS Kabul 124, NDS Herat, NDS Kandahar and NDS Laghman which are among 16 facilities that ISAF suspended due to intelligence reports and evidence provided by UNAMA. It is important to note that most of the cases of abuse described in the AIHRC report occurred prior to the implementation of ISAF’s six-phase remediation plan and inspections regime. Although the AIHRC alleges instances of post-suspension transfers, ISAF investigated these claims prior to the release of the report and as we have previously informed them, no ISAF or USFOR-A detainees were transferred to any suspended Afghan facility.
In response to earlier discussions with AIHRC, ISAF recently suspended detainee transfers to four additional Afghan facilities, which are identified in their report. These are NDS Badakshan, NDS Wardak, NDS Nangahar and ANP Kandahar. ISAF will investigate the allegation pertaining to the NDS Keshim District facility in the report, as this is new information to ISAF, and we take all allegations seriously. Additionally, ISAF is monitoring the NDS Helmand, Helmand Juvenile Corrections Center and NDS Kabul Dept 40 facilities for compliance with Afghan law and international standards. ISAF and our international partner nations will provide additional training and resources as needed.
“ISAF and Government Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) are committed to ensuring the safety of all detainees and ensuring they are treated in a humane manner that meets ISAF and Afghan obligations,” said General John R. Allen, commander of ISAF. “Though our program has been successful so far in addressing detention operations in Afghanistan, we are examining the report in detail now to determine if additional suspensions of transfer are warranted,” Allen added.
Currently, 14 of the 16 facilities that ISAF had previously halted transfers have completed the remediation and inspection program. These have now been certified and are able to again receive detainees.
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