WASHINGTON: Qatar has agreed to temporarily extend travel bans on five senior Taliban leaders who were released last year from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in exchange for captured Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.
According to officials, the ban would remain in place until diplomatic talks for a longer-term solution are completed.
Officials said Friday the Obama administration was closing in on an agreement with Qatar to extend the restrictions for six months that could be announced this weekend. It was not immediately clear why that agreement had not been finalised.
The official said the U.S. remains in “close contact” with Qatari authorities “to make sure these individuals do not pose a threat to the United States.” As a result of the talks to date, Qatar “has agreed to maintain the current restrictive conditions on these individuals as we continue these discussions,” the official said.
