KABUL: The Afghan Taliban said on Wednesday Pakistan has not freed their former second-in-command, Mullah Baradar, as promised and that his health is deteriorating in prison.

Baradar is seen by many in Afghanistan as the key to restarting peace talks with the Afghan Taliban.

“Unfortunately he still spends his days and nights in prison, and his health condition in worrying. It is getting worse day by day,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Earlier last month, Pakistan had released its most senior Afghan Taliban detainee Abdul Ghani Baradar, a senior official told AFP, in a move welcomed by Kabul who hoped it would encourage peace talks with the insurgents.

Baradar, a one-time military chief often described as the militants’ former second-in-command, was the most high profile detained Taliban commander in Pakistan.

“Yes Baradar has been released,” Omar Hamid, a spokesman for Pakistan's interior ministry had told news agency AFP, without elaborating on the circumstances of the release.

The Pakistani foreign office had also confirmed the release in a short statement.

Afghanistan’s High Peace Council (HPC) had welcomed the release and thanked Pakistan’s government.

“We welcome his release. And we thank the government of Pakistan that showed goodwill and answered positively to the request of Afghanistan government,” Mohammad Esmail Qasimyar, senior member of HPC, had told AFP.