WASHINGTON: The United Stated has welcomed Pakistan’s decision to release Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, former Afghan Taliban second-in-command, saying it would further accelerate Afghan reconciliation process.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s advisor on foreign affairs and nationalsecurity Sartaj Aziz announced on Tuesday that Pakistan would release Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as soon as this month.
“In principle, we have agreed to release him. The timing is being discussed. It should be very soon … I think within this month,” Aziz told a foreign news agency.
Speaking at Atlantic Council in Washington, US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins said that lauded the efforts of Pakistani premier to engage Afghanistan for peace. He reaffirmed US commitment to a long term productive engagement with Pakistan post 2014 drawdown from Afghanistan.
Dobbins said the US is interested in wide-ranging relations with Pakistan and an independent Afghanistan.
