U.S. Forces Said to Free Taliban Foreign Minister

[ze_dscherman]

SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan (Reuters) - The most senior Taliban leader held by U.S.-forces in Afghanistan (news - web sites) has been freed after helping to broker talks between U.S. officials and Taliban fighters.

A senior government official in southern Afghanistan told Reuters that Mullah Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, the Taliban's foreign minister, had been freed from the U.S. military headquarters at Bagram after helping to arrange talks between U.S. forces and the Taliban in the southern city of Kandahar.

SNIP

Muttawakil, considered a moderate member of the radical Islamic movement, surrendered to Kandahar authorities in February 2002 and was handed over to U.S. forces.


The foreign ministry official, who did not want to be named, said Muttawakil had played "a very important role" in arranging talks between U.S. forces and the Taliban near the airport in Kandahar a few days ago, but declined to give more details.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=721&e=1&u=/nm/20031008/wl_nm/afghan_taliban_release_dc

[Devils Advocate NZ]

1. Uh oh! Are the Taliban more powerful than we have been led to believe?

I mean, why would the US need to negotiate with them unless the US is LOSING the war?

[Minstrel Boy]

2. First admission I've seen

of talks, but Asia Times reported them months ago. Interesting.

[Gloria]

3. A deal may be in the works...for the US to

exit Afghanistan and this release may be part of it.
Check out the article from Asia Times Online that's in the current World Media Watch (URL below; also in LBN forum) or at Buzzflash.com today.

It's a very interesting analysis....

World Media Watch...http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical