Afghan govt, Taliban urge more inmate releases in Pakistan
Earlier this week an agreement was reached at a meeting between Pakistani government officials and Afghanistan's High Peace Council (HPC) in Islamabad that resulted in the release of a group of Taliban in Pakistan.
"We hope the releasing of Taliban prisoners from Pakistani jails continues and more Taliban who are willing for talks are released," the chief of Afghanistan's HPC, Salahuddin Rabbani, told reporters on Saturday in Kabul.
Afghan officials have pressed for the release of senior Taliban leaders held in Pakistan believing they could help bring militants to the negotiating table, to end over a decade of war ahead of the 2014 pull-out of US-led Nato troops.
Rabbani said nine members of the Taliban were released but the group did not include the group's former deputy leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who was captured in Pakistan in 2010.
"Those who were released were also important members and they can help us in peace and negotiations," he said, however.
The Taliban, whose government was toppled by a US-led invasion in 2001, leading to an 11-year insurgency to regain power, welcomed the move, calling it a "positive step" to "increase trust between two neighbouring nations and people".
They also "requested the rest of the prisoners... to be released", in a statement posted on one of their websites.
The militants have always publicly refused to negotiate directly with Kabul, calling the government of President Hamid Karzai a US puppet.
Preliminary contacts between the US and the Taliban in Doha were broken off in March when the militants failed to secure the release of five of their comrades held at the Guantanamo Bay prison on the US base in Cuba.
Support from Pakistan, which backed the Taliban regime that held power in Kabul from 1996 to 2001, is seen as crucial to peace in Afghanistan after the departure of Nato combat forces.
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The militants have always publicly refused to negotiate directly with Kabul, calling the government of President Hamid Karzai a US puppet.
It is not a approach of fabricated mindset.It is a reality of the time.Karzai's government is a puppet government,Whole world know that Karzai is a American stooge,have not the policy which represents Afghan people.He is dancing on the indication of concerned quarters.
As a pre-condition, Taliban before attending the negotiating table,want Karzai's removal. They are right in their stance.
Karzai is not a really choosen figure,he has been appointed by the specific foreign power so he is not dependable for them.
State depart should admit their justified demand for stable and sustainable peace in the region.that is essential to end the bloodgame,spreading on more than a decade.
@Khan of Jandul
Buddy its your govt accusing us of harboring ppl against Afghan Govt, now US is unable to secure much easier border along with mexico so how Pak govt alone can control this border. But since we being accused what other choice we have. So if you don't want fence then start realizing the issue and stop accusing Pakistan.
@sajjad ali khan
I really don't care they recognize or not its the border, anyone who has an issue can complaint as much as they want Pakistan state has law and history on their side. Minning the border doesn't cause that much we have homemade industry might also provide some much needed jobs.
@Afzalkhan! Fencing border between people is an inhuman idea. If this fencing and mining will continue, then one day you will also demand that there should be fencing and mining between Punjab and Pakhtunkhwa, and then after sometime, you will demand that this mining shall also take place between Peshawar and Malakand. The problem is hatred of the 'other' and it will not stop with Durand Line. the idea of dividing people could only come in sick mind.
@Anoush
And they use to accuse Pak of that, badalta hai rang aasmaan kaise kaise ;)
@ afzaaal khan where would you mark the border? durand line is not recognized by afghanistan even not by taliban. so to bomb and wire it you will have to sort thst out first. secondly, pakistan has to beg the money for such a big and ludicrous idea. and beleive me in this time of austerity no one will be willing to play santa to fulfil this typical pakistani wish. i think a cheaper option would be to not try to con afghans anymore and come clean with them.
us and afghanistan are creating good and bad taliban.hypocrisy at its best!
Here is a brilliant idea, have afghan govt and Talibaan make a list of ppl they want released and hand it over via Afghan Embassy, Pak should release all of them to Afghan govt, rest should be deported straight on Afghan border. Then mine the whole border as much as we can and post army with order to shoot on anyone moving toward pak border. Cut off all ties let them solve their own issues without any interference from us. This way no one can blame Pakistan, if they have civil war let it be just don't allow anyone to come in.