Baradar in Peshawar to seek Taliban help for peace
October 04, 2013
PESHAWAR: Former deputy leader of Afghan Taliban, Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar has arrived here to seek the support of field commanders for reconciliation with the United States and the Afghan government.
Afghan Taliban sources said that Baradar reached Peshawar a few days ago. They said he apparently wanted to meet his old Taliban friends to seek their support for reconciliation in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.
They said Baradar was initially taken to Karachi after his release on September 21, where he spent time reportedly in the custody of the Pakistani security personnel.He was arrested during a joint operation by Pakistani security agencies and CIA in February 2010 in Karachi. At the time, he was second-in-command to the Taliban spiritual leader Mulla Mohammad Omar.
According to Taliban sources, senior members of the Taliban were avoiding meeting with Baradar as they claimed, he was still in protective custody of the Pakistan security personnel. “He wanted to see senior members of the Taliban in Peshawar and discuss with them the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, none among the senior people agreed to see him due to the presence of security personnel around him,” a senior member of the Afghan Taliban said.
Pleading anonymity, he said the Taliban did not welcome Baradar like the other Taliban prisoners upon their release from Pakistani prisons due to a host of reasons.“First, Pakistan government announced it was releasing Baradar on the request of Afghan High Peace Council to play his role in the reconciliation process. Second, when he was freed President Hamid Karzai welcomed his release and hoped he would contribute to the peace process, which created doubts in minds of the Taliban leadership,” a senior member of the Afghan Taliban explained.
He said Baradar was not a free man and that’s why people were afraid of meeting with him.Another Taliban commander claimed some people went to see Baradar in Peshawar to welcome him after his release. He said they were his old friends but none of them discussed with him any other matter except asking him about his time in the prison and his health.
The Taliban leader said Baradar seemed to be sick and he might be sent to Turkey and then Saudi Arabia for Haj.“Most of our people including those running the Taliban’s Qatar office may go for Haj and Baradar would like to see them there with the help of Saudis,” he said and added many Afghan Taliban members desired to see him but could not do so as they were afraid it might offend the Taliban leadership.
Afghan Taliban sources said that Baradar reached Peshawar a few days ago. They said he apparently wanted to meet his old Taliban friends to seek their support for reconciliation in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.
They said Baradar was initially taken to Karachi after his release on September 21, where he spent time reportedly in the custody of the Pakistani security personnel.He was arrested during a joint operation by Pakistani security agencies and CIA in February 2010 in Karachi. At the time, he was second-in-command to the Taliban spiritual leader Mulla Mohammad Omar.
According to Taliban sources, senior members of the Taliban were avoiding meeting with Baradar as they claimed, he was still in protective custody of the Pakistan security personnel. “He wanted to see senior members of the Taliban in Peshawar and discuss with them the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, none among the senior people agreed to see him due to the presence of security personnel around him,” a senior member of the Afghan Taliban said.
Pleading anonymity, he said the Taliban did not welcome Baradar like the other Taliban prisoners upon their release from Pakistani prisons due to a host of reasons.“First, Pakistan government announced it was releasing Baradar on the request of Afghan High Peace Council to play his role in the reconciliation process. Second, when he was freed President Hamid Karzai welcomed his release and hoped he would contribute to the peace process, which created doubts in minds of the Taliban leadership,” a senior member of the Afghan Taliban explained.
He said Baradar was not a free man and that’s why people were afraid of meeting with him.Another Taliban commander claimed some people went to see Baradar in Peshawar to welcome him after his release. He said they were his old friends but none of them discussed with him any other matter except asking him about his time in the prison and his health.
The Taliban leader said Baradar seemed to be sick and he might be sent to Turkey and then Saudi Arabia for Haj.“Most of our people including those running the Taliban’s Qatar office may go for Haj and Baradar would like to see them there with the help of Saudis,” he said and added many Afghan Taliban members desired to see him but could not do so as they were afraid it might offend the Taliban leadership.
