OTTAWA–Afghanistan's intelligence service refused to accept Canadian-captured prisoners over the summer because the military was providing "insufficient evidence" of wrongdoing, The Canadian Press has learned.

The Afghan-imposed halt in transfers is at odds with claims by the federal government that the Canadian military refused to turn over detainees because local authorities were not living up to obligations to allow unfettered access to prisoners.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay provided that explanation to the House of Commons on Nov. 23, with no mention of the simmering dispute with the National Directorate of Security, the Afghan spy agency.

Former diplomat Richard Colvin told a special House of Commons committee two weeks ago that ordinary Afghans are often caught in security sweeps with little evidence of wrongdoing – an allegation federal Conservatives and the military deny.

And a Sept. 19, 2009, internal memo lends credence to Colvin's assertions.