Pakistan sets date for release of highest-ranking Afghan Taliban prisoner

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has set a date for releasing its highest-ranking Afghan Taliban prisoner to help the peace process.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry says Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Afghan Taliban’s former deputy leader, will be freed on Saturday.

The Afghan government has repeatedly demanded Pakistan release Baradar to jumpstart the stuttering peace process. But some analysts are doubtful his release will make much of a difference.

Baradar was arrested in a joint CIA raid in Karachi in 2010 under murky circumstances.

Afghan officials said at the time he was holding secret peace talks with the Afghan government and accused Pakistan of arresting him to sabotage or gain control of the process. Others said the U.S. was the driving force behind his arrest.

The release date was announced Friday in a statement.

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