When Rafiqullah, all of 14 years old, was captured by the Afghan police in May in Khost province, he could not have expected clemency.

He had crossed over from Pakistan's South Waziristan, where he was a madrasa student, to assassinate Arsala Jamal, governor of Khost; at the time of his arrest he was wearing a suicide vest and riding a motorcycle.

On Sunday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai not only released Rafiqullah but also gave him $ 2000 for traveling back to his home in Pakistan.

Rafiqullah should thank his intended victim Arsala Jalam for the act of clemency. The Khost governor said, 'I don't believe it was his idea, he was brainwashed, he is only a child.'

Karzai, who had his hand on Rafiqullah's shoulder during the pardon ceremony in the presidential palace in Kabul, said, 'The enemies of Islam wanted him to destroy his life and those of other Muslims, I pardon him and wish a good life.

'Today we are facing a hard fact, that is, a Muslim child was sent a madrasa to learn Islamic studies, but the enemies of Afghanistan misled him towards suicide and prepared him to die and kill.

'You are now free and forgiven by the people of Afghanistan.'

Rafiqullah's father Matiullah was also present at his son's pardon.

But not everyone, understandably, shared Karzai's optimism. He was a volunteer, Mullah Malang, member of Parliament from Baghdis province, told The Times, London [Images]. 'He is brainwashed, he will always be a Talib. When he goes back to Pakistan he will tell all his friends that he deceived the Afghan government.'

'I am surprised, we can't give credibility to criminals by paying them,' Hamudullah Tukhi, MP from Zabul, fumed. His colleague from Khost, Gen Said Mohammad Ghulbazai, agreed: 'President Karzai has opened a business for the Taliban and Al Qaeda [Images].'

For political analyst Wahid Muzda, however, it was one of Karzai's greatest decisions.

But oblivious of the debate raging around him, Rafiqullah and his father walked out of the presidential palace on Sunday evening, the 14-year-old pausing only to say, 'I am very happy that I am pardoned and released.'