Islamabad, February 25: Pakistan says it will hand over detained top Taliban commander Mulla Abdul Ghani Baradar to the Afghan government after reviewing his case.
“My visiting Afghan counterpart has formally requested the Pakistani government to hand over Mullah Abdul Ghani Barader, however, we would take decision about it (the issue) by keeping international laws in view,” Rehman Malik, Pakistan’s Interior Minister was quoted by the correspondent as saying on Wednesday.
The remarks were made after a meeting between Malik, his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Hanif Atmar and US FBI chief Robert Miller in Islamabad, in which they agreed in principal to enhance intelligence sharing against wanted militants.
The American FBI chief also sought permission from Islamabad for the interrogation of Mullah Baradar.
US authorities has already asked Pakistan to extradite Baradar and other wanted militants to the United States but Islamabad said they will be extradited to their homeland if they have not violated Pakistani law.
Mullah Baradar was captured along with two aides, during a raid in the port city of Karachi last week.
Baradar, in his late 40s, was the second in command next to Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar. However, some Afghan media outlets have recently reported that Mullah Baradar has been at odds with Mullah Omar and virtually broken ranks with him.
——–Agenices