Afghan President Hamid Karzai has rejected U.S. objections to his government’s latest release of prisoners. A group of 65 inmates were freed from Bagram on Thursday, a prison formerly run by the U.S. occupation. The Obama administration has lobbied intensely against the prisoners’ release, accusing them of attacks on Afghan civilians and U.S. troops. At a news conference, Karzai said the U.S. shouldn’t interfere in Afghan affairs.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai: “Afghanistan is a sovereign country. If the Afghan judicial authorities decide to release a prisoner, it is of no concern to the U.S. and should be of no concern to the U.S. And I hope that the United States will stop harassing Afghanistan’s procedures and judicial authority, and I hope that the United States will now begin to respect Afghan sovereignty.”

In a statement, the U.S. military said the newly released prisoners pose a threat to Afghan civilians and foreign soldiers.