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Pakistan Releases Taliban Commander to Help Afghan Peace Efforts Pakistan Releases Taliban Commander to Help Afghan Peace Efforts
(34 minutes later)
LONDON — Acquiescing to years of Afghan government demands, Pakistan released a senior Taliban commander on Saturday in a bid to help kick-start peace talks in Afghanistan.LONDON — Acquiescing to years of Afghan government demands, Pakistan released a senior Taliban commander on Saturday in a bid to help kick-start peace talks in Afghanistan.
But news of the release met with a mixed reception in Afghanistan, amid questions about the extent of the freed commander’s influence over the Taliban — or his personal intent toward peace talks.But news of the release met with a mixed reception in Afghanistan, amid questions about the extent of the freed commander’s influence over the Taliban — or his personal intent toward peace talks.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said it had released the commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a founding member of the Afghan Taliban and a former deputy to the movement’s leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, in an effort to “further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process.”The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said it had released the commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a founding member of the Afghan Taliban and a former deputy to the movement’s leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, in an effort to “further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process.”
Mr. Baradar was captured in a joint operation by the C.I.A. and Pakistani intelligence in the port city of Karachi in 2010, and his detention has been a point of contention among Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States ever since.Mr. Baradar was captured in a joint operation by the C.I.A. and Pakistani intelligence in the port city of Karachi in 2010, and his detention has been a point of contention among Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States ever since.
Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil, a former Taliban foreign minister, welcomed Mr. Baradar’s release as a step toward peace talks between the Afghan government and insurgents.Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil, a former Taliban foreign minister, welcomed Mr. Baradar’s release as a step toward peace talks between the Afghan government and insurgents.
But a Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, declined to comment, saying he was waiting for direction from his superiors. “I cannot say anything until I receive something from our superiors,” he said. “I have been trying to get reaction all day.”But a Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, declined to comment, saying he was waiting for direction from his superiors. “I cannot say anything until I receive something from our superiors,” he said. “I have been trying to get reaction all day.”
The release had been expected for several weeks.The release had been expected for several weeks.
Critics of such releases, who are most vocal in Afghanistan, point out that Mr. Baradar has not publicly stated whether he supports peace negotiations, or whether is willing to play a role in talks.Critics of such releases, who are most vocal in Afghanistan, point out that Mr. Baradar has not publicly stated whether he supports peace negotiations, or whether is willing to play a role in talks.
“We have to be cautious and we shouldn’t be overly optimistic about what is going to happen next,” said Sayed Mohammad Amin Tariq, a member of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council from Badakhshan. “We should now see if Mr. Baradar can really help the peace process or whether he will rejoin the Taliban and fight.”“We have to be cautious and we shouldn’t be overly optimistic about what is going to happen next,” said Sayed Mohammad Amin Tariq, a member of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council from Badakhshan. “We should now see if Mr. Baradar can really help the peace process or whether he will rejoin the Taliban and fight.”
However a spokesman for the High Peace Council, Maulavi Shahzada Shahid, was more upbeat, calling the release “a good sign for the strengthening of the peace process between the Taliban and the Afghan government.” A spokesman for the High Peace Council, Maulavi Shahzada Shahid, was more upbeat, however, calling the release “a good sign for the strengthening of the peace process between the Taliban and the Afghan government.”
“Now it is Mullah Baradar’s moral obligation, for the sake of peace and stability, he should assist the peace process between the Taliban and the Afghan government,” Mr. Shahid added.“Now it is Mullah Baradar’s moral obligation, for the sake of peace and stability, he should assist the peace process between the Taliban and the Afghan government,” Mr. Shahid added.
The circumstances of Mr. Baradar’s release were unclear, although American officials had privately lobbied for Pakistan to keep Mr. Baradar under house arrest. On Friday, a State Department spokeswoman told reporters it was important that such releases were conducted in a “responsible manner.”The circumstances of Mr. Baradar’s release were unclear, although American officials had privately lobbied for Pakistan to keep Mr. Baradar under house arrest. On Friday, a State Department spokeswoman told reporters it was important that such releases were conducted in a “responsible manner.”
The spokeswoman, Marie Harf, said that Mr. Baradar’s release was “a matter of ongoing discussion between Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to promote peace as part of this reconciliation process.”The spokeswoman, Marie Harf, said that Mr. Baradar’s release was “a matter of ongoing discussion between Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to promote peace as part of this reconciliation process.”
Asked if the United States had asked that Pakistan keep an eye on Mr. Baradar, she said, “This is a decision for the government of Pakistan.”Asked if the United States had asked that Pakistan keep an eye on Mr. Baradar, she said, “This is a decision for the government of Pakistan.”
Pakistani officials argued that Mr. Baradar’s continued detention would anger the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, who had personally called for his release.Pakistani officials argued that Mr. Baradar’s continued detention would anger the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, who had personally called for his release.
Mr. Baradar will remain in Pakistan and will be protected by a security detail, intelligence officials in Islamabad told The Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity.Mr. Baradar will remain in Pakistan and will be protected by a security detail, intelligence officials in Islamabad told The Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Declan Walsh reported from London, and Rod Nordland from Kabul, Afghanistan. Jawad Sukhanyar and Sharifullah Sahak contributed reporting from Kabul.

Declan Walsh reported from London, and Rod Nordland from Kabul, Afghanistan. Jawad Sukhanyar and Sharifullah Sahak contributed reporting from Kabul.