Indefinite suspension: Pakistan stops release of Afghan Taliban prisoners

Talks over the issue have come to a halt since Kabul accused Islamabad of sabotaging the peace process.

ISLAMABAD:

The process of releasing Taliban prisoners currently in Pakistani custody has been suspended indefinitely due to renewed tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, The Express Tribune has learnt.

According to officials, talks between the two neighbours on the fate of the remaining Taliban detainees have come to a halt ever since Afghanistan accused Pakistan of sabotaging the fragile peace process.

“The focus at the moment is on de-escalating tensions. It has been a while since we last discussed the issue of Taliban releases,” said a senior Pakistani official familiar with the development. The official, who asked to remain anonymous, insisted that the delay was not on the part of Pakistan.



“It is Afghanistan which is reluctant to discuss the issue further,” he added.

The process of Taliban release started in November when Pakistan at the request of the Afghan High Peace Council freed more than a dozen detainees to help jump-start the reconciliation process. Subsequently, Islamabad released more Taliban prisoners, including ailing former Afghan justice minister Nooruddin Turabi, former Helmand governor Abdul Bari, Allahdad Tabib and Azam Kakoo in December, bringing the total number to 26.

The move was initially hailed by the Karzai administration. But later it claimed that many of the freed Taliban rejoined the insurgent group instead of facilitating the peace process.

Kabul accused Islamabad of mishandling the issue. The two countries then agreed to establish a mechanism under which future releases would be coordinated. Under the new arrangement, senior foreign ministry officials from the two sides would coordinate and prepare a list of prisoners for their release.

The two sides agreed to operationalise the mechanism in February at the trilateral summit attended by leaders from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Britain in London. However, officials from the two countries have yet to hold a maiden session in the wake of strains in ties.

The latest tensions stem from Afghanistan’s allegations that Pakistan had laid down preconditions for supporting the reconciliation process.

The Afghan deputy foreign minister recently said that his country could pursue talks with the Taliban without Pakistan, which is considered crucial for any peace deal.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2013.