Pakistan to free senior Taliban leader

Pakistan's national security chief said Tuesday that his country has decided to set free senior Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to help in the Afghan peace process, dpa reported. "The decision has been taken to set him free to help in Afghan reconciliation process. The timing of release is not final as yet, but probably he could be released this month," Sartaj Aziz told dpa. He said Baradar would remain in Pakistan rather than handed over to Kabul. Baradar was arrested in 2010 from port city of Karachi in a joint operation by Pakistani and US officials. The move to release him comes after Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged Islamabad during an official visit in August to help set up talks with rebels allegedly based in Pakistan. Pakistan released at the weekend seven Taliban leaders, including former senior commander Mansoor Dadullah. Last year 26 Taliban rebels held in Pakistani prisons were were set free.