Pakistan to release Mullah Baradar, other Afghan Taliban detainees
The move comes as the clearest signal yet that Pakistan backs reconciliation efforts.
A file photo of Mullah Baradar. PHOTO: NYT/FILE
ABU DHABI:
Pakistan plans to release all Afghan Taliban prisoners still in its detention, including the group's former second-in-command Mullah Baradar, Pakistan's foreign secretary Jalil Jilani said on Friday, the clearest signal yet that it backs reconciliation efforts.
"The remaining detainees, we are coordinating, and they will be released subsequently," Jilani said at a news conference in Abu Dhabi.
Asked if the former Taliban number 2 Baradar would be among those to be released, he said: "The aim is to release all," without elaborating further.
Pakistan, in a bid to support peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan and answering requests of the Afghan government and the high peace council, agreed to release a number of high profile Taliban detainees in November 2012.
Pakistan released around 26 Taliban leaders since then.
Pakistan plans to release all Afghan Taliban prisoners still in its detention, including the group's former second-in-command Mullah Baradar, Pakistan's foreign secretary Jalil Jilani said on Friday, the clearest signal yet that it backs reconciliation efforts.
"The remaining detainees, we are coordinating, and they will be released subsequently," Jilani said at a news conference in Abu Dhabi.
Asked if the former Taliban number 2 Baradar would be among those to be released, he said: "The aim is to release all," without elaborating further.
Pakistan, in a bid to support peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan and answering requests of the Afghan government and the high peace council, agreed to release a number of high profile Taliban detainees in November 2012.
Pakistan released around 26 Taliban leaders since then.