Baradar still in Pakistan jail, claim Taliban

KABUL leader in its custody, the insurgent movement claimed on Wednesday.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar continued to be in prison, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a brief statement, weeks after Islamabad announced his release.

Mujahid said: “Unfortunately he (Baradar) continues to spend his days and nights in prison, and his health condition is deteriorating with each passing day.”

While announcing the release of the Taliban’s second-in-command on Sept. 21, Pakistan said the step had been taken in response to a request from the Afghan High Peace Council.

Following his release, Baradar was kept in a safe house in the port city of Karachi before being shifted to Peshawar, where he was to seek support from Taliban’s field commanders for reconciliation with the Afghan government.

However, Taliban members were reluctant to meet their ex-comrade, saying Baradar remained in Pakistan security personnel’s protective custody.

According to Mujahid, Mullah Baradar has neither been freed nor reunited with his family 18 days after the Pakistani government’s announcement.

He demanded the former insurgent commander should be released on humanitarian grounds as soon as possible.

“The Pakistan government has repeatedly spoken of his release, but the fact is that Baradar is not yet a free man. We, therefore, strongly urge to clarify the situation and release him in accordance with its announcement,” Mujahid said.

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