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WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed concern Thursday over the Afghan government's decision to free five Taliban prisoners in exchange for the freedom of an Italian journalist.
Asked at a Pentagon news conference whether he was troubled by the deal, given that it implies the Afghan government has let Taliban militants resume their fight against U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Gates replied, "Yes."
"This was between the Afghan government and the Italians," he added. "We are not the sovereign government of Afghanistan, so I think we have influence but we don't have the authority or the ability to dictate decisions to that government."
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