Pakistan sets free Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Baradar

Pakistan Saturday released senior Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to help in the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, the Foreign Ministry said.

Baradar, number two in the Taliban hierarchy, was arrested in the Pakistani port city of Karachi in February 2010 in a joint raid by the Pakistani and American intelligence agents.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai had demanded Baradar’s release during his visit to Pakistan late last month.

Pakistan had earlier announced that Mullah Baradar will not be handed over to Afghan government and he will be free to go anywhere.

Abdul Ghani Baradar is one of the founding members of the Taliban and held several top military positions until his arrest.

He had served as deputy defence minister, corps commander Kabul and chief of military unit in Kandahar, as well as head of five western provinces.

Afghan government considers Baradar as key to the peace process however Taliban leaders are hopeful that he will remain loyal to the Taliban movement.

Pakistan has so far freed 33 Afghan Taliban in ten months

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=41710

Posted by Tahir Khan on Sep 21 2013. Filed under Latest News, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.