Karzai wants Taliban commander extradited

Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai said he wants Pakistan to hand over a captured Taliban commander to his country.

The detention of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, considered the top deputy to Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar, was shrouded in mystery.

Mr Karzai told a group of reporters over breakfast in the Pakistani capital Islamabad today that his government is “pursuing a fundamentally changed policy approach together with Pakistan toward stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan”.

Baradar’s fate and what role Pakistan plays in any peace effort are among the many subjects Mr Karzai is expected to discuss with top Pakistani officials during his two-day visit to the country that ends later today.