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The shadow assistant defence minister has lamented the release of a terrorist convicted of murdering Australian soldiers.
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According to reports, Hekmatullah — a rogue Afghan soldier convicted of the murder of three off-duty Australian soldiers in 2012 — has been released from a detention facility in Qatar.
In 2020, the terrorist was transferred from Afghanistan as part of a deal struck between former Afghan government authorities, the United States, and the Taliban.
Prisoners were transferred as “goodwill pre-conditions” that obliged the Taliban to enter into intra-Afghan negotiations with the government of Afghanistan.
However, reports now suggest that following the collapse of the former Afghan regime, Hekmatullah has returned to Taliban-controlled Kabul.
Hekmatullah had been held in detention with five other highly sensitive prisoners, all of which have been convicted of killing Coalition soldiers or civilian humanitarian workers in a series of insider attacks.
The convicted terrorist is purportedly living comfortably in Afghanistan’s capital.
Responding to reports of Hekmatullah’s return to Kabul, Afghanistan veteran and shadow assistant minister for defence Phillip Thompson said the news was “disturbing” and “disgusting”.
“This monster is completely unrepentant after murdering three of our nation’s bravest in cold blood and it is disgusting that he is being hailed a hero by the Taliban,” Thompson said.
“He should never have been allowed to see the light of day again, let alone been given the hero treatment with a house, car, guards, an amnesty for his crimes and his expenses paid for by the Taliban.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Stjepan Milosevic, James Martin and Robert Poate at this difficult time, especially not knowing the whereabouts of their loved ones’ killer.”
Thompson added the news is a reminder of the selfless sacrifice of Australia’s service men and women.
“We should always remember to be thankful for the sacrifice of those who lost their lives in order to protect ours,” he said.
[Related: Lessons learned: Afghanistan]
