Pakistan on Monday freed another group of Afghan Taliban prisoners, including former ministers and governors, to help bolster the peace efforts in Afghanistan, dpa reported. "In order to further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process, Pakistan has today released eight Taliban detainees," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Among those released were former justice minister Nooruddin Turabi and ex-minister Allahdad Tabib, former Taliban governors Abdul Bari, Mullah Daud Jan and Mir Ahmed Gul, the ministry said. The identities of the remaining three Taliban figures were not disclosed. The ministry said Pakistan had released 18 Taliban prisoners last month on the request of the High Peace Council - Afghanistan's negotiating group tasked with starting talks with the insurgents. They are believed to have been freed in groups after Kabul's chief peace negotiator Salahuddin Rabbani visited Pakistan for talks focusing on efforts to end the 11-year war. It was not known whether those released, some of whom were described an important figures, remained in Pakistan or moved to Afghanistan. Media reports said Afghan negotiators had repeatedly demanded the release of Taliban detainees, and Pakistan's move was hailed as "significant" in the peace and reconciliation process. Islamabad's role is considered critical as the United States and its allies proceed with their phased withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
