Afghan Taliban second-in-command, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was released by Pakistan on Saturday.
The Afghan government had long demanded that Islamabad free Baradar, whose arrest in January 2010 led to Pakistan being accused of sabotaging initiatives aimed at bringing peace in war-torn Afghanistan.
Last week, Prime Minister’s Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had said that the former Taliban chief strategist would not be handed over to Afghan authorities and would be released in Pakistan instead.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was eager to see him out of Pakistani custody. Karzai remained confident that Baradar’s release could woo Taliban insurgents to join the peace process.
Baradar was arrested in Karachi, reportedly in a secret raid by the CIA and Pakistani agents; an operation that was described as a huge blow to the group.
At the time, Baradar was reported to have been Taliban’s second-in command.
Earlier, Pakistan had released seven Afghan Taliban prisoners in order to further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process and improve ties with Afghanistan. The prisoners were not handed over to Afghan authorities directly and were allowed to walk away out of their cells.
The announcement of the release came at a time when Afghanistan prepares for a major transition, as NATO/ISAF forces look to complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014.
Great! Why don't they just hand over the government to Taliban on a silver platter? And in the meanwhile we start shopping for Stone Age couture (not women because obviously they'll have to wear black trash bags).
SHARAMNAAC
funny really its a practical joke ?
Its makes no difference. Taliban are our brothers so the Ghani brother. When USA\NATO forces leave Kabul than Taliban would come and ensure our extention of pakistan up to centeral asia. Do u think its nonsense?! How can most inteligent nation like pakisni people could be senseless?! No its not possible rather its indian disinformation.
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