/ 12 October 2021

Anger as Hekmatullah released

Image source: ABC
Image source: ABC

The rogue Afghan soldier who killed 3 off-duty Australian soldiers in Afghanistan in 2012 has been released from jail in Qatar and his whereabouts is unknown, Aussie officials confirmed yesterday. Known as Hekmatullah, the deserter was jailed in Afghanistan for murdering Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, Private Robert Poate and Sapper James Martin. Last year, he and other prisoners were transferred to Qatar during the US-led peace talks with the Taliban. And just recently, Hekmatullah’s release was sped up by the Taliban after taking control of Kabul in August. Victims’ families were upset by the Taliban deal when it was revealed last year. Poate’s father Hugh called it a “damning indictment on the Australian-American alliance”. “We share the sorrow of Australians at this outcome and again offer our condolences to the families and the loved ones of our 3 fallen soldiers,” a federal government spokesperson said yesterday.

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