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Taliban Urge Pakistan to Free Senior Leader, as Promised Taliban Urge Pakistan to Free Senior Leader, as Promised
(about 2 hours later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — A senior Taliban leader whom Pakistan said it had released in an effort to facilitate Afghan peace talks remains in prison, the Taliban said on Wednesday. The report, if true, is likely to renew concerns about Pakistan’s commitment to peace talks. KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban said Wednesday that a senior insurgent leader, who Pakistan announced last month had been released after more three years in prison, remains in custody. But Pakistan insisted it had released the man, along with several other Taliban detainees in an effort to push forward stalled peace talks.
The Taliban said in a written statement that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a founder of the Islamist movement, “is still spending days and nights locked up behind bars in worrisome health conditions, which are deteriorating by the day.” The competing claims left in doubt what had been the one promising development in the peace talks in months.
The Taliban claim, if true, would likely renew concerns about Pakistan’s commitment to the peace effort. The Taliban said in a written statement that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a founder of the Islamist movement, “is still spending days and nights locked up behind bars in worrisome health conditions, which are deteriorating by the day.” The insurgents said they had released their statement about Mr. Baradar because his release had become “a hot subject spread by media outlets.”
“Some media outlets have gone as far as claiming that he is busy in political activities,” they said.
Within hours, though, Pakistan’s foreign ministry insisted it had delivered on its promises to free Mr. Baradar. Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, the main spokesman for the foreign ministry in Islamabad, said Pakistan had released several Taliban detainees to facilitate the Taliban reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
“Mullah Baradar has been similarly freed,” he said in a text message. “As far as we are concerned, he is free to meet and contact anyone to advance the cause of reconciliation.”
Pakistan announced last month that it had released Mr. Baradar, who was captured more than three years ago in a joint raid by the Central Intelligence Agency and Pakistani intelligence in the Arabian Sea port of Karachi.Pakistan announced last month that it had released Mr. Baradar, who was captured more than three years ago in a joint raid by the Central Intelligence Agency and Pakistani intelligence in the Arabian Sea port of Karachi.
Mr. Baradar’s detention quickly became a point of contention with Afghan authorities. They insisted he was detained for making peace overtures without the blessing of the Pakistani military, and viewed his continued imprisonment as an effort by Pakistan to undermine the stalled peace process.Mr. Baradar’s detention quickly became a point of contention with Afghan authorities. They insisted he was detained for making peace overtures without the blessing of the Pakistani military, and viewed his continued imprisonment as an effort by Pakistan to undermine the stalled peace process.
During a visit to Pakistan in the summer, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan personally pressed for Mr. Baradar to be released.During a visit to Pakistan in the summer, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan personally pressed for Mr. Baradar to be released.
When the announcement came in September that Mr. Baradar was finally set free, it was immediately hailed in Kabul and Washington as a sign that Pakistan, under new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was sincere about moving forward peace talks and improving relations with Afghanistan.When the announcement came in September that Mr. Baradar was finally set free, it was immediately hailed in Kabul and Washington as a sign that Pakistan, under new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was sincere about moving forward peace talks and improving relations with Afghanistan.
The Taliban, though, did not confirm Mr. Baradar’s release at the time. Their silence reinforced doubts about what influence Mr. Baradar, a former deputy to the movement’s leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, would have within the insurgency after a long stint in prison.The Taliban, though, did not confirm Mr. Baradar’s release at the time. Their silence reinforced doubts about what influence Mr. Baradar, a former deputy to the movement’s leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar, would have within the insurgency after a long stint in prison.
On Wednesday, it appeared the question remains moot. Mr. Baradar remained in prison, the Taliban said. The group added: “We earnestly ask the Pakistani government and officials to give clarification, and, just as they have announced, he should be released.” On Wednesday, the group added: “We earnestly ask the Pakistani government and officials to give clarification, and, just as they have announced, he should be released.”
Pakistan offered no immediate comment on the Taliban statement. Nor did Afghan authorities, although Aimal Faizi, the spokesman for Mr. Karzai, said in an interview last week that there had been no contact between Mr. Baradar and the Afghan government. The Taliban, who call themselves the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, added that “the Islamic Emirate and his family believe it to be his legitimate right to be freed under humanitarian and Islamic sympathy from his wrongful imprisonment due to his deteriorating health condition.”
The Taliban said on Wednesday that they were making the statement because the release of Mr. Baradar had become “a hot subject spread by media outlets.” Aimal Faizi, the spokesman for Mr. Karzai, said in an interview last week that there had been no contact between Mr. Baradar and the Afghan government.
“Some media outlets have gone as far as claiming that he is busy in political activities,” they said.

Declan Walsh contributed reporting from London.

Those reports were mistaken, and “the Islamic Emirate and his family believe it to be his legitimate right to be freed under humanitarian and Islamic sympathy from his wrongful imprisonment due to his deteriorating health condition,” said the Taliban, who call themselves the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.