Karzai Gov't Frees Taliban for Payments

First, WikiLeaks revelations found that Afghan’s President Hamid Karzai pardoned drug dealers. Now, sources have confirmed to Reuters that Karzai’s government also routinely frees top Taliban fighters in exchange for payment or for political motives. The president’s powerful younger brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, is involved in the practice as well. The situation could undermine the U.S.’s plan to hand over security forces to Afghan forces by 2014. “The threat of arrest has lost its deterrent value as they are confident of being sprung," Michael Semple, an expert with Taliban contacts.