Poreg View: Talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan on the release of a key member of Taliban, some of whom like Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar were arrested in 2010 as a part of Islamabad’s one-upmanship games, is a welcome development. It also augurs well for the success of the pace moves, and guarantees that Pakistan would no longer sabotage the peace initiatives.
Rangin Spanta, the national security adviser to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, also has confirmed the contacts with Baradar. “We have met Mullah Baradar. Our delegation has spoken to him two months ago to know his view on peace talks”, he said. Spanta is known as architect of peace-building efforts.
Baradar, a powerful Taliban military chief, was second-in-command at the time of his arrest in March 2010. The detention had adversely affected Afghanistan – US efforts to talk to the Taliban since he is a trusted aide to the one-eyed elusive Taliban supremo, Mullah Omar. It is Mullah Omar, who gave him the nickname Baradar (brother), providing him with great influence and prestige in Taliban circles.
At least two other Taliban leaders are believed to have been arrested along with Baradar. These arrests had stopped a secret channel of communication between the Taliban and the UN as well, as Kai Eide, a former UN envoy to Afghanistan, had said.
Recent months have not seen much success in restarting the peace process. Both the Afghan and the US officials have been frankly admitting this reality. The failure is clear from the Taliban’s decision to suspend the talks and its charge that the US officials have failed to honour their promise to usher in confidence-building steps.
The contact with Baradar raises hopes of reviving the sagging peace process. Since he was the responsible for plotting suicide bombings and other attacks on American and Afghan targets, he could play a key role in the negotiations ahead.
It is still unclear whether Pakistan will repatriate Baradar to Kabul. If it does, it will be a giant CBM.
