Pakistan will consider freeing former Afghan Taliban second-in-command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, if current releases of lower level members help to advance peace efforts, officials from both countries said on Thursday.
“After releasing 13 Taliban, Pakistan promised to free Mullah Baradar if these releases prove effective in peace negotiations,” a senior Afghan official close to talks between Islamabad and Kabul told Reuters.
Afghanistan has been pushing Pakistan to release Afghan Taliban captives who could provide leverage in any peace talks with the movement.
Despite the move, Pakistan is under growing pressure to free senior Taliban figures such as Baradar to boost reconciliation efforts, as most Nato combat troops prepare to pull out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and anxiety grows over the country’s security.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2012.
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Leverage to whom?