Pakistan may release more Taliban prisoners to revive nascent Afghan peace process

Pakistan could release another batch of Afghan Taliban detainees at the request of the Hamid Karzai administration to revive the peace process in Afghanistan.

A government official confirmed to The Express Tribune that the release of more Taliban prisoners would be on the agenda of talks during the upcoming visit of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Pakistan.

While the names and the exact number of prisoners expected to be freed was not disclosed, official sources said the list is expected to be finalised during talks between Karzai and Pakistani authorities, the report said.

According to the report, Karzai is set to travel to Islamabad later this month, the first such visit since the change of government in Pakistan following the May 11 parliamentary elections.

He is expected to be accompanied by members of Afghan High Peace Council mandated to find ways for holding direct talks with the Taliban, the report added.

Pakistan first started releasing Taliban prisoners in November last year as part of its efforts to jumpstart the Afghan reconciliation process.

As many as 26 Taliban prisoners, including some senior figures, have been released since then.

However, Pakistan unofficially suspended further releases in the wake of strained ties with Afghanistan.