Pakistan to release top Afghan Taliban leader: gov't

Pakistan said Tuesday it would soon release senior Afghan Taliban leader Mulla Andul Ghani Baradar who was arrested in Karachi in February 2010 in a joint raid by the American CIA agents and Pakistani forces.

Afghan government has been demanding Baradar's release since his arrest as they believe he can play a key role in peace process. "Pakistan has decided in principle to release senior Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in a bid to help promote the Afghan peace process," Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said.

He told Radio Pakistan that the Taliban leader will be released at an appropriate time.

Earlier, Pakistan's Advisor on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, also said his country would release Mullah Baradar this month.

Pakistan freed seven Afghan Taliban detainees this week, taking the number of freed Taliban prisoners to 33 in 10 months.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai had called for the release of Mullah Baradar and other Taliban who can help in the peace process during his visit to Pakistan late last month.