Two Pakistani Brothers Repatriated After Two Decades of Indefinite Detention at Guantanamo Bay

The United States has repatriated two Pakistani brothers who had been held without charges at the Guantanamo Bay military prison for two decades. Abdul Rabbani and Mohammed Rabbani were transferred to U.S. custody in 2002 after they were arrested in their home city of Karachi by Pakistani officials.

The U.S. Department of Defense said in a statement that the brothers’ detention was no longer needed to protect against a “continuing, significant threat” to the United States. The brothers were accused of providing logistical support, including housing, to al-Qaeda members, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

The repatriation of the two brothers is part of the Biden administration’s ongoing efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay prison facility. The administration has been working to reduce the number of detainees held at the prison, which has been criticized for its indefinite detention of prisoners without charge or trial.

The U.S. government has repatriated a number of detainees in recent months, including a Saudi man who was released in March after being held for 14 years. The U.S. has also transferred several detainees to other countries, including Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The repatriation of the two Pakistani brothers marks another step in the Biden administration’s efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay prison facility. The administration has said it is committed to reducing the number of detainees held at the prison and to ensuring that those who remain are treated humanely.