(Image source: The Nation)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Afghan investigators say the U.S. military is abusing Afghan prisoners. The commission’s report follows similar claims made by President Hamid Karzai early last week.

Fox News reports.

“An Afghan investigative commission is accusing the U.S. of abusing detainees. The group is demanding the U.S. military release the prisoners being held at Gitmo into their custody. This is the latest in an ongoing dispute between the U.S. and Afghan governments over hundreds of accused Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives.”

Al-Jazeera reports the commission is basing its report off a visit to several Afghan prisons.

“(The Afghan commission’s leader) said prisoners had complained of abuse including beatings, humiliating body cavity searches and being exposed to extreme cold. He cited the case of Abdul Jabar, 71, who said he was kept in a pitch-black room and lost a tooth after being punched.”

But The New York Times casts doubt on the accusations, writing:

“...independent Afghan and Western human rights advocates have documented relatively humane conditions at the American prison since it opened in late 2009, replacing an older facility that was plagued by abuses. Even so, there have been persistent complaints about arbitrary detentions and a lack of due process at the new prison — problems that are pervasive in the Afghan prison system as well.”

The BBC says accusations have blindsided the U.S. military, who are already working to hand over Afghan prisoners, and explains what might have prompted Karzai to speak out now.

“(The commission) was the latest step in the deteriorating relationship between Mr Karzai and Washington. He has been angered by discussions the US and other Afghan stakeholder have had on the possibility of the Taliban opening an office in Qatar, as a base for future peace talks.”

These accusations are another complication for those peace talks. CNN gives some more reasons why it will be tough to reach an agreement.

“There are a lot of questions about those talks. For example, the Taliban are not monolithic. They have a lot of factions, including Mullah Omar and the Haqqani network. What exactly do they want? Will they agree not to cross the red lines that the U.S. is insisting on?”

Karzai demands the prisoners be handed over within a month. But a state department spokesperson said a potential exchange would take whatever time is necessary.