Pak in touch with Afghan, US over release of Taliban detainees

Pakistan today said it is in touch with Afghan and US authorities over the release of Taliban detainees to help the reconciliation process in the war-torn neighbouring country.
The remarks came amid reports that none of the seven Taliban detainees, who were released by Pakistan on Saturday, have reached their homes.
Pakistan has already released 33 detainees since last year and has decided "in principle" to release prominent Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Baradar at an "appropriate time".
Asked if the government was in contact with the Afghan government and the US over the release of the detainees, Foreign Office Spokesperson Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said, "The government of Pakistan maintains contact with the concerned authorities in Afghanistan and the US on such matters".

Addressing the weekly press briefing here, he said Pakistan released detainees, including seven on Saturday, with the objective to contribute to Afghan reconciliation process.
Chaudhry said the purpose is to allow these elements to join the mainstream reconciliation process.

He underlined that Pakistan will not interfere in the internal matters of Afghanistan and will extend all support and assistance for the success of reconciliation process there.
"We support a political solution that is Afghan-owned and Afghan-led," Chaudhry said.
Asked what was Pakistan gaining by releasing the detainees, he said, "The philosophy is very clear. Pakistan believes that reconciliation in Afghanistan will be facilitated by participation of all stakeholders in an Afghan-led process. The release of the Taliban detainees by us should be seen in that spirit".

Responding to another question on whether Pakistan keeps a track of released detainees and where they go, he said, "I do not have information as to where they go once the detainees are released".
Media reports today said that the militants were not handed over either to the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad or to the country's missions in Pakistani provincial capitals.
However, official sources said the detainees were released and not handed over to authorities because they would be "bound" if this was done.
"The detainees have been left free. They will make their way back into the groups on their own," said a senior official who did not want to be named.