(From left to right) Maulvi Mohamed Nabi Umari, Mullah Abdul Haq Waseeq, Mullah Noorulallah Noori, Mullah Mohamed Fazil Akhund and Mullah Khairullah Khairkhuwa.- File photo

By Salman Siddiqui/Staff Reporter

 

The families of all the five Taliban leaders who were released recently under a landmark exchange deal are now in Qatar, a senior Taliban source told Gulf Times.

The Taliban leaders celebrated Eid with their families for the first time in 13 years in Qatar, the source added.

Under the prisoner exchange deal between the US and the Taliban that was mediated successfully by Qatar, five Taliban leaders held in Guantanamo Bay prison for 13 years were released on May 31 and then flown into Doha on June 1. At the exact time, an American soldier held captive by the Taliban since June 2009 was handed over to a US Special Forces team in Khost, Afghanistan.

The five released Taliban leaders, Maulvi Mohamed Nabi Umari, Mullah Abdul Haq Waseeq, Mullah Noorulallah Noori, Mullah Mohamed Fazil Akhund and Mullah Khairullah Khairkhuwa are now adjusting to their new lives in Qatar along with their families.

According to several eyewitnesses, some of these Taliban leaders were also spotted on the first day of Eid at one of Qatar’s largest mosques, where they attended Eid prayers.

When asked whether the released Taliban leaders liked Doha, where they now live, a senior Taliban source, who is close to them, said: “As you can imagine, these poor people have gone through a lot [of pain] in the last 13 years at Guantanamo Bay. It’s not about whether they like to be in Qatar or not. They’re just glad that they are out of that place and are now with their families. Alhumdullilah, they are all doing fine here.”

Unlike Sgt Bergdahl, who has reportedly started a desk job at the army headquarters and was set to paid around $350,000 for wages earned during his captivity, the five Taliban leaders are not expected to be given any such wages by the Taliban leadership. In fact, their exact role in the movement was still being evaluated by the Taliban Shura, especially since they remained unaware of the internal dynamics of the militant group, which has changed over the period of the last 13 years.

Since the Taliban leaders are in Qatar under a special arrangement, they did not have to meet the formal requirements applicable to foreigners to bring in their families, the source added.

 

 

 

 

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