Pakistan to release key Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Baradar Saturday

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday said that detained Afghan Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar will be released on Saturday, said a statement issued by the foreign office.

The statement noted that Islamabad will release Bradar, a close aide of Taliban supreme commander Mullah Muhammad Omar, in order to further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process.

Afghanistan High Peace Council has been making efforts for the release of key Taliban figures detained in Pakistan to expedite peace efforts ahead of US-led foreign troops drawdown from the war-stricken country.

Taliban who ruled Kabul before the US invasion and waged a bloodiest war against foreign forces demanded released of their leaders before entering any peace deal with the US.

Peace efforts suffered a blow when Afghan President Hamid Karzai protested over opening of Taliban’s political office in Qatar due to Islamic movement's banner and flag.