Hanif Atmar, Afghanistan’s former foreign minister, says he travelled to Pakistan 10 times to secure the release of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, now the Taliban deputy prime minister.
In an interview with Afghanistan International, Atmar referred to the recent “unity of voice” among Afghan political movements, saying all sides have jointly declared that their preference is not war but a political settlement achieved through negotiation and dialogue.
He said the Taliban must respond positively to this demand but added: “I am not sure the Taliban will do so.”
Atmar warned that if the Taliban refuse to engage in talks, they will push Afghanistan into a “major disaster” and create opportunities for the country’s enemies.
He said the international community should not support war and bloodshed in Afghanistan, but instead back a political solution and help facilitate intra-Afghan dialogue.
Atmar said Afghanistan is no longer a priority for the international community, but stressed that the world must still honour its commitments to the country.
He added that the Taliban have failed to uphold their obligations under the Doha Agreement, saying such behaviour contradicts Islamic teachings.
In another part of the interview, Atmar addressed rising tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan, describing them as a “real crisis” and saying: “These tensions will not be resolved by issuing fatwas.”
Referring to the previous Afghan government’s efforts to reach a political settlement with Pakistan, Atmar said: “As part of those efforts, I travelled to Pakistan ten times to secure Mullah Baradar’s release so that negotiations could move forward.” He added that he does not trust Pakistan.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is one of the founders of the Taliban and a close associate of the group’s founder, Mullah Omar. He was arrested by Pakistan’s intelligence service in 2010 and held until 2018. Baradar was released following US efforts, particularly by Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, and later became head of the Taliban’s political office in Qatar.
Baradar was a signatory to the Doha peace agreement between the Taliban and the United States. He now serves as the Taliban administration’s deputy prime minister for economic affairs and is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Kabul’s current leadership.
