Afghan Taliban commander: Mansoor Dadullah reunites with family

ISLAMABAD: Months after Pakistani officials announced his release, Mansoor Dadullah, a senior Afghan Taliban commander, has been allowed to reunite with his family, a spokesman for the freed commander said on Thursday. Mansoor was arrested in Balochistan in February 2008. He is the brother of feared Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah who was killed by foreign and Afghan forces in southern Afghanistan in 2007. In September last year, Pakistan announced the release of a group of seven Taliban leaders, including key commander Mansoor. However, he was not allowed to meet his family, his spokesman Baryalai Rehbar Mal said. “I can confirm that Mansoor Dadullah has now rejoined his family and friends and he also spoke to me on the phone,” Rehbar Mal told The Express Tribune. He said that Mansoor is suffering from a kidney ailment and is under treatment, therefore, he is not taking part in any activity. Mansoor’s supporters had launched separate groups – the Shaheed Dadullah Mahaz and Fidaye Mahaz – that claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the assassination of a member of Afghan High Peace Council Arsala Rehmani Daulat. Taliban officials say the Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar had expelled Mansoor after he forced commanders to confess the killing of his brother. However, Rehbar Mal said his group is part of the “Islamic Emirate” and considers Mullah Omar as its leader. Pakistan has freed nearly 60 Afghan Taliban prisoners since the process started November last year. The Afghan government has been demanding the release of Taliban detainees to help the peace process. Afghan officials, however, say that none of the freed Taliban have joined the reconciliation process as yet. Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2014.