Mullah Baradar-led Taliban team in Pakistan for talks

A Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has travelled to Pakistan in response to an invitation from Islamabad.

Dr. Mohammad Naeem, Taliban’s political spokesman tweeted: “Today (Tuesday), a high level delegation led by Mullah Baradar, head of political office, left for Islamabad at the official invitation of neighboring country Pakistan.”

He said the delegation would hold talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

“The delegation will discuss issues of mutual interest. In particular, problems of refugees, relaxation and facilitation of afghan’s movement to Pakistan, as well as the problems of Afghan traders are envisaged to be discussed,” Naeem added.

In a statement, Foreign Office in Islamabad said that a delegation of the Taliban political office, headed by Mullah Baradar, would be visiting Pakistan on 16-18 December. During the visit, the delegation would meet with the Foreign Minister and call on the PM Imran Khan.

“The visit of Taliban delegation is part of Pakistan’s policy to reach out to key Afghan parties in the Afghan peace process with a view to facilitating the Intra-Afghan Negotiations that commenced in Doha on 12 September 2020.”

Pakistan would continue to support an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement for durable peace, stability and prosperity in Afghanistan and the region, the statement added.

Few months back, a Taliban delegation led by Mullah Baradar visited Pakistan.

Two days back, US special envoy for Afghan peace Zalmay Khalilzad also traveled to Islamabad where he discussed Afghan peace process with Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI head Gen. Faiz Hameed.

Both the intra-Afghan negotiations teams announced that they would resume talks after a three-week break for consultations.

The government team led by Masoum Stanikzai arrived in Kabul from Doha on Tuesday night.