Afghanistan to grill Pak about Mullah Baradar's whereabouts

Islamabad, October 27: Afghanistan will demand an explanation from Pakistan on the whereabouts of a former Taliban second-in-command Mullah Baradar. Afghan leaders will seek answers from Pakistan when the leaders of both countries meet next week to discuss how to end years of the insurgency, an Afghan official said. According to the Daily Times, the whereabouts of Baradar has been the source of intense speculation since Pakistan announced his release on September 20. Pakistani sources said that he is kept in a safe house and is closely watched by his Pakistani handlers. Afghanistan believes Baradar's prolonged stay in Pakistan may have marred his reputation among fighters. Aimal Faizi, a spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, said that Baradar is still under strict supervision. He added that Afghanistan will be seeking an explanation from Pakistan on his whereabouts and how Pakistan can facilitate direct talks between him and the High Peace Council. Faizi said Karzai would raise the issue when he meets Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in London next week for a summit hosted by Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, the report added. (ANI

Pakistan to bar Afghan refugees after NATO leaves

Islamabad: Pakistan won't allow Afghan refugees to enter the country after the withdrawal of NATO forces from war-torn Afghanistan in 2014, a minister said. "Pakistan will not welcome fresh influx of refugees from Afghanistan and use all legal channels in collaboration with the international community to block entry of Afghans on the border," the Dawn newspaper quoted Pakistan's State and Frontier Regions Minister Lt.Gen. (retd.) Abdul Qadir Baloch as saying Friday. The minister said Pakistan would utilise all options to stop Afghan refugees from crossing over the border. "In case Afghanistan is unstable, then the local residents will be left with no choice but to flee to Pakistan but even then, we won't welcome them," he said.