Pakistan To Free Former Afghan Taliban Mullah Baradar On Saturday

Photo: A picture provided to NBC News by sources close to the Afghan Taliban appears to show Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar addressing Taliban somewhere in Afghanistan in 2003. NBC News

Pakistan To Free Former Afghan Taliban No.2 Saturday -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Pakistan is to release former Afghan Taliban second-in-command Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on Saturday, yielding to years of calls from Afghanistan to free a man who it hopes could play a pivotal role in bringing peace to Pakistan's neighbour.

The United States and Afghanistan have long pressed Pakistan to free Baradar, a figure they believe could tempt moderate Taliban leaders to come to the negotiating table as U.S.-led troops prepare to leave Afghanistan at the end of next year.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Baradar, captured in Pakistan in 2010, would be freed "in order to further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process".

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More News On Pakistan Freeing Former Afghan Taliban Mullah Baradar On Saturday

Pakistan to free Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Baradar on Saturday -- BBC
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Taliban's former second-in-command will be released by Pakistan tomorrow -- NBC
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