Mullah Omar’s deputy may be released in pak
Pakistan is likely to release Taliban chief Mullah Omar’s deputy, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, in the coming days, official sources said.
“His release is imminent. This can be done in the next few days. The decision was taken after talks with Afghan foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul,” said a government official. The Afghan foreign minister had held talks with Pakistani officials on Friday.
After the talks, Pakistani officials had said they were ready to release Taliban prisoners to improve ties with Kabul. The move is being seen as a significant development to impress upon the Taliban that they should become part of the peace and reconciliation process with the Afghan government as well as the US.
Pakistan’s decision to release more Taliban leaders was announced at the end of the Afghan foreign minister’s visit to Islamabad, but the statement did not say who would be released, or when.
“Now that we have a successful visit by foreign minister Rassoul to Islamabad and his productive talks with Pakistani leaders, it is expected that Mullah Baradar will be set free soon. Also, we may see other Taliban leaders being set free,” said a diplomatic source.
The source said Afghanistan also wanted Pakistan to be a “bridge” to reach out to various Taliban groups, such as the Haqqani network. He said Pakistan was willing to play facilitator in the Afghan reconciliation process, but it would not extend any guarantee about its success. “To expect that Pakistan has full control over the Taliban is naïve, but Islamabad can use its good offices for the success of the peace process in Afghan-istan,” he said.
Post new comment