*KABUL Afghan Taliban’s new political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar willnot be attending peace talks with U.S. officials due to take place in Qatarnext week.*
Senior Taliban leaders told Reuters that Baradar would not be traveling toQatar, citing different reasons including problems obtaining traveldocuments as well difference among the leadership over his precise role inthe talks.
Baradar was released from a Pakistani jail in October and his appointmentwas widely seen as marking a new push by the Taliban to emerge from thepolitical and diplomatic shadows.
Baradar, who earlier led the insurgent group’s military operations insouthern Afghanistan, was arrested in 2010 by a team from Pakistan and U.S.intelligence agencies. A co-founder of the movement, he was a close friendof the reclusive late Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, who gave himhis nom de guerre, “Baradar” or “brother”.
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“Actually Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar wanted to go to Qatar and personallyhead the peace talks but due to a host of reasons, he would not be able totravel to Qatar and participate in talks,” one leader told Reuters oncondition of anonymity.
