Pakistan talking to Afghan, US over release of Taliban detainees

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday said it is in consultation with Afghan and US authorities over the release of Taliban detainees to help the reconciliation process in the war-torn neighbouring country.

Pakistan has already released about 33 detainees since last year and has decided "in principle" to release prominent Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Baradar at an "appropriate time".

Asked if the government was in contact with the Afghan government and the US over the release of the detainees, foreign office spokesperson Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said," Pakistan government, Afghan authorities and the US are in consultations on the release of these detainees".

Addressing the weekly press briefing here, he said Pakistan has released 33 Taliban detainees including seven in recent days with the objective to contribute to Afghan reconciliation process.

Chaudhry said the purpose is to allow these elements to join the mainstream reconciliation process.

Pakistan believes that the Afghan reconciliation process will succeed only if all the stakeholders are able to participate in it, he said.

He underlined that Pakistan will not interfere in the internal matters of Afghanistan and will extend all support and assistance for the success of reconciliation process there.

"We support a political solution that is Afghan-owned and Afghan-led," Chaudhry said.TOI