The release of another dozen Taliban prisoners by Pakistan is on the cards, a move aimed at boosting the Afghan reconciliation process that has been ‘sluggish’ hitherto due to a lack of interest shown in it by the Mullah Omar-led Taliban.
Pakistan released eight Taliban prisoners in December 2012, including former Taliban justice minister Mullah Nooruddin Turabi.
Prior to that in September, as many as 18 Taliban detainees were set free by the Pakistani government during the visit of Afghan High Peace Council’s delegation to Islamabad led by Salahuddin Rabbani, son of former Afghan president and the council’s first chief, late Professor Burhabuddin Rabbani.
The release of Taliban prisoners by Islamabad is seen as a key step that would help persuade the Taliban leadership to sit for negotiations with the Afghan government.
Pakistan is seen as a key player in the ongoing global efforts aimed at bringing about peace in Afghanistan, as the US-led foreign troops stationed there plan to depart the war-torn country in 2014.
The Hamid Karzai government believes that with exit of foreign troops, only reconciliation with the Taliban would stabilise Afghanistan and bring peace to the country, that is why it has been long pressing Islamabad to play a role for the success of the reconciliation process and in that context, release Taliban detainees.
The release of around a dozen more Taliban detainees, expected in a week or two, would bring the number of freed Taliban prisoners close to 40, but no decision has yet been made about the fate of important Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who is said to be the deputy of Mullah Omar.
“Pakistani authorities were earlier considering to free Mullah Baradar as well, but it seems that they are waiting for the impact of previously released Taliban leaders and activists on the Taliban leadership,” a diplomatic source said on Wednesday, seeking anonymity.
He said the Afghan government had been long demanding the release of Mullah Baradar and other Taliban detainees, as Afghan authorities believe that the freedom of senior leaders like Baradar would go a long way in persuading the Taliban leadership to join the reconciliation process.
“As for the Taliban, they have welcomed the release of Taliban detainees by Pakistan, but it is not yet clear whether they will be impressed by this important development to the extent of joining the peace dialogue with the Afghan government,” the source said.
A Pakistani official said Pakistan was releasing the Taliban detainees in batches as part of its policy to support the Afghan reconciliation process.
“We believe that a dialogue between various Afghan groups, including the Taliban, would bring peace and stability to Afghanistan and Islamabad is taking every possible step in order to facilitate that dialogue,” he said, requesting not to be named.
A dozen more Taliban set to fly free
