KABUL – The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has responded over therelease of senior Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar from Pakistanijails.

The Office of the President in a statement said the former President HamidKarzai welcomes the Pakistani government’s move regarding the release ofMullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Mullah Mohammad Rasool, and some other Talibanleaders from the jails, Khaama News has reported.

Karzai further added that the release of Taliban leaders from the jails isa positive step forward for the Afghan peace and stability in Afghanistan.

He said efforts were also made during his tenure for the release of MullahBaradar and Taliban leaders and conditions were also set for the meetingbetween the former Afghan High Peace Council Chief Salahuddin Rabbani andMullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

Karzai expressed hopes that the Taliban leadership would make good use ofthe opportunity which has been made available with the release of MullahBaradar and take effective steps in coordination with the efforts of theAfghan people to bring peace and stability in the country.