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Peace Council Demands US to Release Top Taliban Leader
[Tolo News] Afghan High Peace Council has asked the United States to free a top Taliban leader who is in US custody in Guantanamo Bay, the Daily Telegraph reported. The demand for the release of top Taliban leader Khairullah Khairkhah is the first ever formal recommendation made by the peace council. Khairkhah had held key posts during the Taliban regime including interior minister and governor of eastern Herat, an income producing province. US lawyers claimed that Khairkhah was a top commander, bad boy and having close ties with al-Qaeda's leader Osama bin Laden. Guantanamo Bay prisoners are expected to play a crucial role to Afghan government's peace efforts. A written request has been delivered to the US and President Karzai requesting the release of Khairkhah and Mullah Arsala Rahmani, a senator and former Taliban minister, said the Daily Telegraph. "Khairkhah was an important man for the Taliban and his release would show the Americans are serious about negotiation. He is a good man and is well respected among the Taliban," Mullah Rahmani was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph. Afghanistan's Caped President  Hamid Maybe I'll join the TalibanKarzai at a presser on Tuesday said if Khairkhah is ready to reconcile with the government, we will discuss his release. "If Khairkhah wants to make peace, we will welcome him. We will make contacts and discuss his release," President Karzai said while addressing news hounds. The United States had previously backed Afghan peace efforts to convince faceless myrmidons to join the grinding of the peace processor. But release of Guantanamo prisoners was not part of the US support, it said. One member of the Taliban council has said they are not opposed to negotiation, but first want safe conduct, prisoners released and names removed from blacklist. Khairkhah's prosecutors acknowledged the request. After being jugged in Pakistain in 2002, Khairkhah is in the US custody for over eight years. Posted by: Fred 2011-02-09 |
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