Afghanistan to demand extradition of Taliban leader: spokesman
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, March 11, IRNA -- Afghanistan will call for extradition of captured senior Taliban leaders in talks between Pakistan leaders and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who arrived in Islamabad on 2-day state visit on Wednesday, Afghan Presidential spokesman said.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai was given warm welcome as he arrived in Islamabad on his first visit since his election for second term last year.
President Karzai is leading a 45-member delegation including 20 ministers and advisors, an Afghan embassy official said.
Pakistan has arrested seven senior Afghan Taliban leaders including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Taliban No. 2 who was captured in Karachi in January in a joint operation by American CIA and Pakistan intelligence agents.
Pakistan has so far refused to entertain demand by Afghan authorities to transfer Taliban leaders and the Afghan leaders will ask for their extradition, Afghan presidential spokesman Hmaeed Elmi said in Islamabad.
There is no extradition treaty between the two countries and Pakistan insists on formal request for the hand over of Mulla Baradar, and Afghan sources said that Afghan authorities are likely to make a formal request during Karzai visit.
Hamed Elmi also said that Afghan President will also seek Pakistan’s help in the proposed Jirga or tribal council to be held in Afghanistan in few months.
This is President Karzai’s first visit to Pakistan after his re-election last year.
Elmi said problems in a new transit trade agreement is also on agenda as the two countries have so far failed to remove bottlenecks to sign new accord to replace the one inked in 60s.
Both countries had agreed to sign a new transit agreement by end of 2009 and they had held series of meetings in Kabul and Islamabad but could not finalise the deal.
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End News / IRNA / News Code 1006213
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