Posted on 09/10/2013 3:04:35 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has decided to release the most senior Afghan Taliban prisoner it is holding and could do so as soon as this month to jumpstart the struggling peace process, a senior Pakistani official said Tuesday.
The Afghan government has long demanded that Pakistan release Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's former deputy leader. He was arrested in a joint raid with the CIA in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi in 2010.
Sartaj Aziz, adviser to the Pakistani prime minister on national security and foreign affairs, said the government has agreed to release Baradar to help the peace process but has not yet set a date.
"He could be released this month or very soon," said Aziz. "It is part of confidence building measures, and we are hopeful he can play a role."
Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar, secretary of the Afghan High Peace Council, which represents the government in peace talks, welcomed the news of Baradar's planned release.
"In the past, Abdul Ghani Baradar has been willing to help bring peace to Afghanistan. Because of that, they put him in jail," said Qasimyar. "I believe it is good for both Afghanistan and Pakistan to build trust, and this release is important."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
for good behaviour, no doubt.. or promise thereof in the future.. but i drone on..
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