The arrest in Afghanistan of one of the founders and former deputy leaders of the Taliban, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is major. It can represent a breaking event in the already complex drama of a country that has really gone haywire because of war. Baradar was considered to be the right hand of the Taliban’s founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar. Afghan security forces detained him, and some sources claim his arrest took place during a raid on a Taliban hideout in the country’s southern province of Kandahar.
The detention has not yet been confirmed by the Taliban, but Afghan officials have said so, as have a few international allies of the countries. The Afghan interior ministry told Baradar he had been captured with a few other major Taliban members whose identities were not disclosed. The arrest of Baradar is a great success for Afghan and international forces. This also made them involved in the long and bloody conflict with the Taliban group, which has fought to topple the Afghan government and its international backers since they were ousted from power in 2001 through a US-led invasion of the country. Baradar was one of the co-founders of the Taliban, its deputy leader, and one of its most influential members.
It is said that he has a close relationship with Mullah Omar, and he played a very important role when the negotiations occurred between the Taliban and the US government in the 1990s. But Baradar was in disfavor under the new leadership of the Taliban, under Haibatullah Akhundzada. Sources say he had become critical of Akhundzada’s leadership style and was making an attempt to carve his own territory. The arrest of Baradar comes as a surge in violence has rocked Afghanistan recently, with an intensified level of fighting between government forces and the Taliban. This has raised concerns about the possibility of escalating violence and instability in the area. The US government welcomed the arrest of Baradar and said it would be a perfect sign toward peace and stability in Afghanistan.
“The arrest of Mullah Baradar is a significant blow to the Taliban’s leadership and a major milestone in our efforts to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan,” said the US State Department spokesperson. A note of caution, however, has been added by other observers to the arrest. “Inasmuch as the capture of Baradar could be interpreted as a significant victory,” said a senior official of NATO, “it also shows that there is still a lot yet to be done and many challenges are yet to be faced in order to bring stability to Afghanistan and calm to the region. We must continue to work closely with our partners to bring peace and stability to the region.” Strengthened by internal factions and weakened by external pressure, the Taliban is a major determinant of stability in Afghanistan.
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They have continued to attack government forces and civilians, which has been a growing concern for international backers. The arrest of Baradar is viewed in circles as a major setback for the Taliban leadership that is likely to slash its ability to conduct war. There is no certainty as to whether such actions are going to spur an immediate decline in violence or increase government-Taliban-related negotiations. These months have seen a lot of jacked-up talks between the government and the Taliban’s representatives, although not much progress has been seen. The two sides negotiated over issues like reforms in the election system, human rights, and political participation, but deadlock on major bone-of-content issues like major troops’ withdrawal and declaration of recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate political entity does not seem to lessen.
The international community has urged all sides to sit across the table for positive talks and bring the process into the right order. “Those parties must take it as sufficient reason to cooperate with each other toward setting a peaceful future for Afghanistan,” said the United Nations in a statement. “We remain at the service of endeavors to offer peace and reconciliation.” To conclude, the capture of Mullah Baradar represents an important development in Afghanistan’s war. It would not only damage the leadership of the Taliban but also underline the larger difficulties and hostilities that are still faced in achieving the pristine efforts of peace and stability in the region. With continued international backing seeking a peaceful conclusion, they should not find themselves taking any major losses.
