U.S. and Afghanistan Agree on Handover of Prisoners

KABUL, Afghanistan — Seeking to break an impasse on a broader strategic arrangement, the United States agreed on Friday to greatly accelerate its handover of detainees to Afghan government control but will retain a veto over which ones can be released, American officials said.

Gen. John R. Allen, the American military commander, and Abdul Rahim Wardak, the Afghan defense minister, signed the compromise agreement in what diplomats described as a breakthrough in negotiations over a long-term military partnership.

The memorandum of understanding officially hands over control of detainees to an Afghan official as of Friday, but allow for a six-month period of transition to full Afghan control of the American-held detainees, American officials said.

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