Khan Mohammad, an Afghan prisoner released by the United States in exchange for two American detainees, has spoken about his years of imprisonment.
He was arrested by US forces in Jalalabad in 2006 on charges of drug trafficking and plotting attacks against foreign troops. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment in a prison in California.
The 55-year-old, a resident of Chaparhar district in Nangarhar province, was freed following efforts by Afghanistan’s interim government and has now reunited with his family in Nangarhar.
Recalling his ordeal, Khan Mohammad, a former Guantanamo detainee, said: “I was accused of selling drugs and financing the Islamic Emirate. They also claimed I was involved in a major plot to attack Nangarhar airport to kill US forces. Based on these allegations, I was sentenced to two life terms.”
His son, Rafiullah, expressed relief upon hearing his father’s voice after years of separation. However, he insists that his father was innocent and demands compensation from the US government.
“No crime was ever proven against him. He spent twenty years in prison unjustly. Our demand is that the US government compensate us for the long years my father was wrongfully imprisoned,” said Rafiullah.
Meanwhile, local authorities have said that the interim government continues to work towards securing the release of other Afghan prisoners held abroad.
Azizullah Mustafa, the deputy governor of Nangarhar, said: “The Islamic Emirate is making efforts to secure the release of another detainee, Haji Mohammad Rahim, and reunite him with his family.”
Khan Mohammad’s release from a California prison comes as another Afghan, Rahimullah, remains detained at Guantanamo Bay. The interim government is actively pursuing his release as well.
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