Pakistan Confirms Release Of Top Afghan Taliban Commander

Former Afghan Taliban fighters who later joined to fight with government forces (file photo)

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed Islamabad's plan to release a top Taliban commander from detention.

The ministry's spokesman, Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, told reporters in Islamabad on September 12 that the Pakistani government is "committed, in principle" to release Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who was once the second-in-command in Afghanistan's Taliban.

Chaudhry added that Pakistani authorities have released dozens of Taliban fighters in the past and that the objective of releasing Taliban detainees is to "contribute to the reconciliation process in Afghanistan."

According to Chaudhry, seven Taliban prisoners have been released in the last several days. The release of prisoners comes after the Pakistani government convened an All-Parties Conference in Islamabad on Monday and issued a declaration requesting dialogue with the Taliban.