KABUL: 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 told Reuters on Thursday.
"After releasing 13 Taliban, Pakistan promised to free Mullah Baradar if these releases prove effective in peace negotiations," said a senior Afghan official close to talks between Islamabad and Kabul.
Afghanistan has been pushing Pakistan to release Afghan Taliban captives who could provide leverage in any peace talks.
Pakistan, in a bid to support peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan and answering requests of the Afghan government, high peace council, had agreed to release a number of high profile Taliban detainees.
Pakistan has released mid-level Taliban prisoners over the last two days.
But Pakistan is under growing pressure to free senior Taliban figures like Baradar, as most Nato combat troops pull out by the end of 2014.
Afghan officials believe he may command enough respect to persuade the Taliban to engage in talks with the Kabul government.
Asked if Baradar would also be freed, a senior Pakistani foreign ministry official said that could happen if the release of the mid-level Taliban figures "produced results".
COMMENTS (9)
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Let's give him a free villa in Abbottobad , it's the Pakistani way
It is not understandabale why they were arrested. What were the charges on them? Whether they have been trialed in a court of law? So first arreast and now release, Is there any law in Pakistan which is being followed or not. Until we follow a law indiscriminately, whether it is wrong or right, one cannot expect peace in our country.
Don't you think we should get at least Mullah Faizullah in return ? That would prove that all the crocodile tears being shed in the name of Malala by the government were actually genuine tears.
Do not release Mullah Bradar till we are sure that Afghanistan is sincere in mending its fences with Pakistan. We should also ascertain Mullah Omar's reaction before we release Mullah Baradr.
So now are the liberal fascists going to label the USA and the AFPak of them taliban sympathizers?
Everytime you try this "peace" process and release these prisoners they come right back to try and take over your country. WAKE UP. Stop bowing to Afghanistan and show your courage and might and defeat the Afghan Taliban once and for all! They have kiled over 30,000 of your people man COME ON
This will be another welcome step for the reconciliation process. Peace efforts of the Afghan government are laudable. Taliban also need to show political maturity. After these releases, belligerent sides need to announce ceasefire and respect the universal right of the people to live in peace. Dialogue is the only way forward. Stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan is not only in the interest of Pakistan, but the entire world. As long as Afghanistan will bleeds, there will be no peace in the region. Pashtun on both sides of the Duran Line needs respite from this ongoing violence, which is unprecedented in their history- Even Ghengiz Khan would ashame If he had seen this brutality of worst kind.
Wonder what desi liberals going to say now ? ...