Qatar extends travel ban for ‘Taliban 5’

The United States Department of State has reached an agreement with the Qatari government regarding extending the travel ban on the ‘Taliban 5’ for “another few days” giving time for the United States, Qatar and Afghanistan to discuss a possible “6-month extension on the ban.”

In May of 2014, the US government conducted a swap involving Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl and the ‘Taliban 5’; Fazil Mazlooom, Khairullak Khairkhwa, Norullah Noori, Mohammed Nabi Omari and Abdul Haq Wasiq. Bergdahl, who was held captive by the Taliban for five years after leaving his post in Afghanistan, was able to come home in exchange for the discharge of the ‘Taliban 5’ from Guantanamo Bay to Qatar, where they are expected to undergo a year of supervision as a term of release. While Bergdahl was charged with desertion in March and could be faced with life in prison, the Taliban 5 remain in Qatar, awaiting their official release, which was set for May 25, 2015. The date set was exactly a year after the swap was conducted and deal was made between Qatari officials and the US government.

This swap came after multiple assurances from President Obama that he would close Guantanamo Bay before the end of his term, even attempting an executive order (Executive Order 13492) in 2009 for legal alternate routes regarding the “detention of captives” in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

President Obama was heavily criticized once he revealed this exchange to the public. However, President Obama attempted to assure citizens, saying in a press conference soon after the swap, “I wouldn’t be doing it if I thought that it was contrary to American national security.” Qatari government officials assured Obama repeatedly that they would be able to moderate the ‘Taliban 5’ and the threat they pose.

After this one-year deal expired, concerns were raised about the ex- Guantanamo bay ‘Taliban 5’ returning to terrorist activity. Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS), a member of the House Intelligence Committee explained to Fox News, “I’ve seen nothing that causes me to believe these folks are reformed or [have] changed their ways or intend to re-integrate to society in ways to give me any confidence that they will not return in trying to do harm to America.” Furthermore, in January, CNN was the first to report that at least one of the Taliban 5 was reportedly attempting to make contact to militants in Afghanistan. In March, Fox News confirmed with government officials that at least three of the five Taliban leaders in captivity had attempted to make contact with militants and terror networks. The Taliban Political Office, which opened on June 18, 2013, is located in Qatar providing the ‘Taliban 5’ with easy contact to their militant group.

CNN reports that every six months Congress is given a report concerning “the status of detainees transferred out of Gitmo.” The September 2014 report shows that “17% of detainees … are confirmed to have returned to militant activity. About 12% are in the suspected category.” John McCain stated, “30% of past Guantanamo detainees re-enter the fight” during his push for a bill he and three other Senators produced in January 2015 to keep Guantanamo open and prohibit transfers for two years. And in an article written by Fox News, “intelligence and Defense officials” suspect as many as “20 to 30 former Guantanamo Bay detainees … of having joined the Islamic State and other militant groups.”

On May 31, a State Department official said Qatar “has agreed to maintain the current conditions on these individuals as we continue these discussions.” While a member of the Afghanistan High Peace Council, Ismail Qasimyar, has reportedly said, “the five Taliban either should remain in Qatar indefinitely or be handed over to the Afghan government.”

This proposed 6-month extension on the travel ban for the ‘Taliban 5’ from the State Department is an important but temporary solution to the problem at hand. The prevention of recidivism for these five Taliban leaders is highly unlikely, putting the threat of meeting past detainees on the battlefield higher than ever before.