This is the second group of the Taliban Pakistan has freed in less than two months. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
They also told The Express Tribune that officials have allowed the Taliban second-in-command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, to speak to his family members twice over the past two days.
“I can confirm that seven more low-ranking Taliban detainees have been released and they have rejoined their families,” a Taliban official said on condition of anonymity.
Another Taliban official also confirmed the release but declined to disclose their names.
The government did not issue any statement about the release of the new group of the Taliban detainees.
This is the second group of the Taliban freed in less than two months.
On September 7, Pakistan announced the release of seven Taliban figures including senior commander Mansoor Dadullah. However, Taliban sources said that Mansoor Dadullah has not yet been allowed to rejoin his family.
Pakistan has released nearly 40 Afghan Taliban prisoners over what it says are request from the Afghan government to facilitate the peace process.
Afghan officials however say that none of the freed Taliban have joined the reconciliation process, yet.
Taliban sources Tuesday again insisted that Mullah Baradar has not yet been allowed to rejoin his family despite repeated claims by Pakistan.
A Taliban official told The Express Tribune that Mullah Baradar was allowed on Monday and Tuesday to speak to his family members by the phone.
“Mullah Baradar family members were happy over the frequent telephone contacts that he will be allowed to rejoin them during Eid,” he said, requesting not to be identified as he is not allowed to speak to the media.
Pakistan had announced that Baradar was freed on September 21, however, Taliban claim he has not yet been freed.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said last week 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.
COMMENTS (16)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732503274-0/Untitled-design-(43)1732503274-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732501636-0/Untitled-design-(42)1732501636-0-165x106.webp "article")
@Khalad
buddy you said they`ll not enjoy the real freedom if they do not cooperate with Pakistani govt for your good information they are attacking on your army on your minorities and active in balochistan and waziristan still continuing their mission however Paksitan has already been released 40 Talibans and this is another term to release them so what is the main problem you are not understanding ,focus on what they want from Pakistan so dialogue is necessary. as i told earlier . for your second question that why Pakistan is not handing over Taliban to Afghanistan so buddy listen Afghanistan is not sovereign and is under the control of NATO and recently when Pakistan is releasing Taliban they have captured one of the Taliban leader Latif Mehsud who is also the negotiator from Taliban so handing over Taliban to Afghanistan mean giving taliban directly to American and NATO forces who will again capture them now go and do your home work budyyyy.
@Zeeshan
I didnt think you are that naive not to know that they are released but FOR the INTEREST of pakistan. Somehow they are still used by pakistan army and if they refused to cooperate they will not enjoy the real freedom. Now can you tell me why they are not handed over to Afghan Governemnt who will negotiate with them for peace... ??? go do your home work buddy dont write poem here
"What is this "Low Ranking"??
Does it mean that they kill less civilians than "High Ranking"??
Please, let us know the number of High Ranking killerqs??
releasing Taliban would not resolve the solution , regime will have to take some other measures like they
ll have to talk with their delegation (Taliban) as well as face to face dialogue will resolve the issue now we are releasing them just on the request of Afghanistan and America we are sovereign and well have to resolve it on the basis of our countrys interest no on the basis of Americans interest .Heard Good taliban and bad taliban, now they also have lower taliban and upper taliban ! So which taliban is actual taliban ?
So the best way to get release from prison in pakistan is to declare oneself as 'taliban'.
Bad move ! No doubt they will return with vengeance to preach their style of Islam !
more blasts coming soon. whats the need of releasing them. these people need to be hanged
Happy eid for talibans and what about the family of the people killed by them, justice Prevailed
Okay good... Now were they released the same way mulah bradar was or what? did they get their ISI ID card too??
useless these arenot taliban not clear in thier mind thats why being released other wise Taliban cant be released because real taliban are dangerous
Can Pakistani goverment explain what a lower level Taliban is, are they the talibans who initially beat men for not growing a beard, beat women for walking in front of men and when people dont listen to them they blow them up. Now we understand what a lower level Taliban is.
Our political leadership and the courts are working shoulder to shoulder for the freedom of the terrorists. Now we know the real meaning of Peace and Justice in Pakistan!
Again? Once more after Mullah Baradar!
For God sake'plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz leave us alone,we dnt need ur islam-Go away, yar go away, we will face the dooms day, u go
Now PTI haters what do you say to this. so now would you refer Nawaz as Nawaz Taliban