Afghans demand release of ex-Taliban minister

Showing concern over the prolonged detention of former Taliban foreign minister, Maulvi Wakil Mutawakkil, Afghan authorities in Kandahar sought the early release of the top Talban leader, which is believed to be part of the surrender deal.

"No charges have been brought against Wakil Ahmad Mutawakkil by anyone so far. He surrendered to the Americans on his own," spokesman for Kandahar governor Khalid Pushtun said.

Pushtun clarified that Mutawakkil is neither wanted to the local authorities nor to "others" in acts of terrorism which, necessitated his immediate release.

However, the spokesman for the governor, Gul Agha Sherzoi, did not disclose the whereabouts of the arrested top Taliban leader nor confirmed that Mutawakkil is being detained at Kandahar airport by American forces for interrogation.

"The governor has also assured people in Kandahar on Eid day that Mutawakkil will be released soon," Khalid Pushtun said.

Afghan sources said that it was part of the surrender deal with Mutawakkil that the Taliban leader would be set free soon after his surrender is announced, but the detention, the sources believed, has unexpectedly prolonged.

"He is not a criminal and deserve to be released without any further delay," Pushtun said adding that it has been made clear that all the Taliban elements a not terrorists or wanted to America or the Afghan government.

"All the Taliban leaders and soldiers are not members of Al Qaida They (Taliban) are more than 60,000 in number and it is impossible for the government to arrest all of them," the spokesman said.

Pushtun hoped that the interrogation of Mutawakkil was in final stages and would be released soon. Afghan sources said that Mutawakkil was in contact with the American embassy in Islamabad before he made up his mind to surrender to U.S. forces in Kandahar.

Afghan sources claimed that the soft-spoken Mutawakkil is a close relative of Dr. Abdul Khaliq Fazal, Minister for Social Welfare in Hamid Karzai's interim government, and there are reports that the minister has played a key role in brokering the surrender deal between the former Taliban leader and U.S. forces.

The claim of the Afghan authorities in Kandahar on the occasion of Mutawakkil's surrender that 15 other top Taliban leaders are in contact with the authorities to negotiate surrender, has so far not materialised.

In fact one of the top Taliban leaders and former interior minister, Mullah Abdul Razaaq, has rejected such reports and announced his full support to the Taliban movement and Mullah Mohammed Omar.

Mutawakkil made the unexpected move to hand himself over to the U.S. forces early this month, which was seen as the first major blow to the Taliban after the authoritarian rule of the students militia was toppled in December last year.

Sources closed to Mutawakkil said that the former minister was not happy with Omar's tough stand on Osama bin Laden and members of his Al Qaida organisation at the expense of the Taliban rule and suffering of the common Afghans.