Afghan Peace Negotiators Are In Secret Pakistan’s Visit

Islamabad, Nov 21, IRNA - Afghan peace council officials have arrived in Pakistan to meet senior Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to push for peace process. The delegation, led by chairman of the Afghan High Council, Syed Salahuddin Rabbani, arrived in Islamabad in Islamabad on Tuesday, officials said. It was not clear if the peace negotiators met Mullah Baradar and officials were reluctant to share any information on the record. Pakistan said in September that Mullah Baradar was freed to help in the peace process. However, Afghan Taliban and Baradar’s family insist that he had never been allowed to rejoin family. The delegation includes Masoom Stanakzai, secretary to the peace council, and two officials of the council’s secretariat, the sources said. Prior to Pakistan’s visit, the High Peace Council met in Kabul on Saturday and discussed the agenda for the visit to Pakistan. Afghan Taliban say no “prisoner” can represent them and all such attempts will yield no results. However Afghan government believes that Mullah Baradar enjoys huge respect among the Taliban and he could play effective role in the peace process. Pakistan had agreed to free Mullah Baradar during President Karzai’s visit to Islamabad in August. Karzai had welcomed Baradar’s release and always insisted for complete freedom for him and his specific address for a direct access of the peace council to the Taliban leader. Some Afghan believe that Karzai was interested in Baradar’s release as both belong to same Populzai tribe so he could use for political purposes to win sympathies of his tribe./end