TTP assigns ex-bay inmates as future peace brokers

PESHAWAR: The Tehrik-e-taliban Pakistan (TTP) HAVE Appointed ive former commanders who spent more than a decade as prisoners in Guantanamo Bay as members of the political OFICE In QATAR WHERE they will take part in any future peace talks, oficials In THE movement SAID.

THE ive Commanders, MOHAMMAD Fazl, Mohammed Nabi, Khairullah KHAIRKHWA, ABDUL HAQ WASIQ AND Noorullah Noori, were held for 12 years in the US detention centre before being released in 2012 as part of a prisoner exchange in return for US soldier Berg Bergdahl.

They were settled in Qatar following their release but until now had not been directly involved in political activities, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid SAID. LATER MUJAHID Confirmed THEIR appointment in a Whatsapp message.

The announcement comes amid al ur ry of Us-led diplomatic activity to convince Afghanistan’s largest militant group to negotiate an end to the 17-year war.

The appointments were made as momentum gathers for talks to end 17 years of war in Afghanistan.

A senior Taliban leader told AFP the group had requested the release of Abdul Ghani Baradar and several others at the meeting with Khalilzad.

THE ive TALIBAN igures ARE BELIEVED to BE Closer to THE Group’s top LEADER Haibatullah Akhundzada than the existing members of THE OFICE.

THE TALIBAN OFICIAL SAID THE Appointments had been made at a “very sensitive” time and would help strengthen the Taliban’s political team.

Qatar has emerged as a principal contact point between the Taliban and the US government. Earlier this month, Taliban offic ia ls met the recently appointed US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in the Qatari capital Doha, having already met Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia, there earlier in the year.

A TALIBAN OFICIAL In QATAR SAID that while the former commanders, who were close to the movement’s late founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, had not been ATTACHED to THE political OFICE EARLIER, But THE OFICE HAS sought THEIR opinions and advice in the past.

“They have been contributing to certain important matters in their private CAPACITY. Now they ARE oficially declared as members of the Qatar-based political council and would represent Taliban movement in peace talks with the foreign leaders,” said a member of THE TALIBAN political OFICE In QATAR.