Baradar is seen by many in Afghanistan as the key to restarting peace talks with the Afghan Taliban. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ FILE
Pakistan had announced on September 21st that Mullah Baradar was released to help in the peace process. Baradar was arrested in Karachi in February 2010.
Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, claimed last week that Baradar was released, and this claim was angrily rejected by the Taliban who had been silent about his release until now.
“It is very sad that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is still spending days and nights in detention in Pakistan and we are deeply concerned at his deteriorated health condition,” the Taliban’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid said.
“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Baradar's family and his sympathizers consider freedom as Baradar’s right and we want his immediate release on Islamic and humanitarian grounds,” the Taliban spokesman said in a statement in Pashto to The Express Tribune.
The Taliban spokesman regretted that senior Pakistani government officials had formally announced Baradar’s release claiming “he has not yet been set free.”
“As senior Pakistani government officials have repeatedly announced his (Baradar’s) release, we seriously demand that Pakistani officials clarify what they mean by release. They (Pakistani officials) should honour their commitment of Baradar’s release,” the Taliban spokesman said.
Sources close to Baradar’s family and several Taliban officials had earlier told The Express Tribune that the Taliban leader had not re-joined his family since Pakistan had announced his release last month.
Afghan leaders were also not fully convinced after announcements of his release were made by Pakistan Interior and Foreign Ministry officials on September 21st.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Monday that Baradar still does not enjoy complete freedom and expressed his hope that Islamabad will give him the opportunity to play a role for peace in Afghanistan.
Suspicion grows about Baradar's possible role in the peace process. Afghan analysts said that without restrictions, he could play an influential role and could help revive the stalled Qatar process.
Some Afghan analysts are of the view that Pakistan is encouraging Mullah Baradar to open a new office parallel to Qatar.
“I think Baradar will be allowed to rejoin family once he agrees to what Pakistan, President Karzai and the United States want him to do but these pressure tactics will not work,” Waheed Muzhdah told The Express Tribune by phone.
COMMENTS (7)
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@Asim: Am glad to see an honest Pakistani whom realises the root of the structural issues and admits it. I hope the Paki diplomats could have admitted the same to the neighbours as well. It would have been a different relationship altogether then. And it would have shut up the hardliners across the border as well, cause then they dont have any basis to argue then.
Folks like "SaaD" whom come and comment on tribune with a different attitude that reflects Pakistani attitude to us.
I wish to see more folks like you on tribune.
Mullah Baradar along with 2.7million Afghan refugees should be immediately handed over to Afghanistan/Afghan Taliban so that they could play a role in Afghanistan's peace and prosperity like they have done in Pakistan
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Monday that Baradar still does not enjoy complete freedom and expressed his hope that Islamabad will give him the opportunity to play a role for peace in Afghanistan.
Afghan president is true in his statement,He has expressed the real situation attributed to Abdul Ghanny Brather. But the matter regarding his complete release is still under consideration, some thing have to decided he has released but some points require to take decision ,so process in this connection is going on hope would setteled within very short span of time.
@Asim Ali: 101% agreed. We are treated as 3rd class citizen even in muslim countries like Saudi Arabia & UAE. Our society is now dominated by violence in all walks.
Well said asim
brother is not important figure media is earning money from these useless matters pakistani taliban are the key to every problem
There was a time when Pakistan was building the biggest dams in the world, our airline was the fastest growing in the world, NASA set up a space station in the country for research with Pakistani scientists, the Beatles had actually landed in Karachi, the Karachi airport used to land 60 flights and hour, our players dominated the squash courts. And look what makes the headlines? Taliban? We have breeded, and cultivated terrorists. The men behind the Taliban strategy need to be hanged in the middle of Jinnah Avenue. It is this very strategy which has brought about disrepute to our green passport, our economic malaise, our demise in sports, our airlines and so on.