By Nasim Fekrat (in Afghanistan)
Recently, a journalist based in Kabul reported from an unknown source that Mullah Baradar, the deputy of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the leader of the Taliban, has revealed information regarding his relationship with the Afghan authorities. Baradar was captured by US and Pakistani forces in February 2010 and is still in custody in Pakistan. President Karzai has persistently demanded that the Pakistani government transfer him to Afghanistan, but Pakistani officials have refused.
According to the unknown source, Mullah Bradar has revealed that a number of close relatives of Karzai have been working closely with Taliban insurgents in recent years. They were involved in mobilizing suicide attacks in a number of different cities. The source claimed that Mullah Baradar has revealed a long list of prominent figures in Afghanistan that opposed Karzai who were targeted by Taliban insurgents under this arrangement.
If this unclassified information turns out to be true, a new chapter will open in Afghan politics. More importantly, once again, Afghans will express suspicions over a number of security incidents in recent years, especially over the involvement of the Karzai government in the mysterious suicide attack that resulted in the deaths of six MPs in November 2007 in Baghlan province. Around 75 people died and 96 were wounded in the strike. Among the murdered MPs was Mustafa Kazemi, the leader of a small political party called Eqtedar-e Milli (National Empowerment Party) and a prominent opposition figure known for his criticism of Karzai. Months after the incident, rumors circulated that Karzai was behind the attack. In fact, Mustafa Kazemi’s brother, now leading the party, has publicly accused the Karzai government of being responsible.
Nasim Fekrat is the editor of the Afghan Lord blog. He is now a student at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.