ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has freed senior Afghan Taliban figure Ahmadullah Muti, alias Mullah Nanai, after nearly 17 months’ detention.
A senior Taliban member said on Saturday night “I can confirm the release of Mullah Nanai,” the member told Arab News, adding that he was released due to his “poor health.”
However, Zabihullah Mujahid, The spokesman for the Afghan Taliban said that he can not confirm nor deny this news, “at this stage, we can not comment on this news,” Zabihullah told Arab news.
A source at the Ministry of Interior, who requested anonymity told Arab News that Mullah Nanai was released last month, “as part of efforts to facilitate reconciliation and peace process in Afghanistan.” he added that ” Pakistan is doing its best to bring the Taliban to the negotiation table and release of Nanai is part of this effort.”
In January this year, Taliban political envoys held talks with Pakistani officials on the prospects for peace talks.
In September 2017, Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar said Kabul wanted the repatriation of five Afghan Taliban leaders detained by Pakistan, including Muti, in exchange for Pakistani Taliban leader Mufti Khalid, who was arrested after the group’s brutal attack on the army public school in Peshawar in 2014.
Muti, a member of the Taliban’s powerful Rehbari Shoura (leadership council), was the intelligence chief of Taliban during its regime before 2001. He was arrested by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan province in October 2016.
Taliban: Pakistan frees senior figure
Taliban: Pakistan frees senior figure
WHO warns of health risks from ‘black rain’ in Iran
- “The black rain and the acidic rain coming with it is indeed a danger for the population, respiratory mainly,” WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told a press briefing in Geneva, adding that Iran had advised people to stay indoors
GENEVA: The World Health Organization warned on Tuesday that the “black rain” falling in Iran after strikes on oil facilities could cause respiratory problems, and it backed Iran’s advisory urging people to remain indoors.
The UN health agency, which has an office in Iran and works with authorities on health emergencies, said it has received multiple reports of oil-laden rain this week.
HIGHLIGHT
Tehran was choked in black smoke on Monday after an oil refinery was hit, in an escalation in strikes on Iran’s domestic energy supplies as part of the US-Israeli campaign.
Tehran was choked in black smoke on Monday after an oil refinery was hit, in an escalation in strikes on Iran’s domestic energy supplies as part of the US-Israeli campaign.
“The black rain and the acidic rain coming with it is indeed a danger for the population, respiratory mainly,” WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told a press briefing in Geneva, adding that Iran had advised people to stay indoors.
Asked whether the WHO backed that advice, he said: “Given what is at risk right now, the oil storage facilities, the refineries that have been struck, triggering fires, bringing serious air quality concerns, that is definitely a good idea.”
One video sent to Reuters by a WHO staff member showed what they said was a cleaner mopping up black liquid at its office entrance in Tehran on March 8.
