Baradar, who is leading a high-powered delegation that included senior Taliban leaders, is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other officials on Tuesday (today). Foreign Minister Qureshi confirmed the visit of Taliban delegation at a news conference and said he would meet the Taliban leaders.
Sources familiar with the visit said that on the first day, Taliban delegation, which also included Khairullah Khairkhwa, Mohammed Nabi, Shahbuddin Dilawar and Abdul Latif Mansoor, held certain meetings but those were kept from the media glare.
Earlier in a series of tweets Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said the Taliban delegation led by deputy political chief Mulla Baradar was visiting Pakistan at the invitation of the Foreign ministry to discuss “the latest on the peace process, state of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, [cross-border] travel of people, and trade between the two neighbours”.
The delegation, the Taliban spokesperson added, would hold talks with senior Pakistani officials about recent developments in the Afghanistan peace process, relaxation and facilitation of people’s movement and trade between the two neighbouring countries, issues related to the Afghan refugees in Pakistan and other related topics.
This was the second visit of Mulla Baradar in 10 months. He visited Islamabad in October last year when President Donald Trump abruptly called off the peace talks with the Taliban, citing the group’s continued attacks against the US-led foreign forces.
Pakistan at that time had arranged a meeting between a Taliban delegation led by Baradar and US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. The meeting helped the process to be back on track, which eventually culminated in the landmark deal signed between the US and Taliban on February 29.
The deal envisages a roadmap for the US troop withdrawal in return for Taliban agreeing to not let Afghan soil to be ever used again by terrorist groups.
The visit of the Afghan delegation comes as preparations are being made to kick-start the next phase of Afghan peace process, which is the intra-Afghan dialogue. The talks have been delayed for months because of differences between the Afghan government and Taliban over the release of prisoners.
Recently, the final hurdle was removed when the Loya Jirga or grand assembly endorsed President Ashraf Ghani’s move to free the remaining 400 Taliban prisoners.
The development has now paved the way for the much-awaited intra-Afghan dialogue. The first round is expected to take place in Doha. Pakistan has played a central role in brokering the deal and has still been involved with all stakeholders for the next phase of the peace process.
Los Angeles assistant principal arrested…
23-11-2024
David Lane Braff Jr., an assistant principal in Los Angeles, faces 17 felony counts for allegedly molesting eight students, some as young as six, between 2015 and 2019. Braff, who...
Read moreTrump picks attorney Brooke Rollins as U…
23-11-2024
President-elect Donald Trump has selected Brooke Rollins, a longtime ally and former White House aide, to head the Department of Agriculture. Rollins, currently leading the America First Policy Institute, will...
Read moreFrench plastic surgeon suspended after p…
23-11-2024
French plastic surgeon Olivier Gerbault, known as the “nose maestro,” has been suspended for two years following accusations of botched surgeries. Multiple patients allege that Gerbault, who claimed to have...
Read moreCanada's military chief calls out US Sen…
23-11-2024
Canadian General Jennie Carignan publicly criticized US Senator Jim Risch for his outdated views on women in combat. Risch had expressed skepticism about women serving in combat roles, prompting Carignan...
Read moreTrump ally Lindsey Graham warns UK, Cana…
23-11-2024
UK's potential assistance in arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under an ICC warrant has drawn ire from US Senator Lindsey Graham. Graham threatens severe economic sanctions against any nation...
Read moreMeghan Markle's half-sister says what sh…
23-11-2024
"I knew my dad had suffered but I thought she would stop at the Queen," Samantha said in an interview with DailyMail. Samantha said she used to consider Prince Harry...
Read moreJoe Rogan is ready to do this if Elon Mu…
23-11-2024
Elon Musk engaged in a humorous exchange with Joe Rogan on X, entertaining the idea of purchasing MSNBC. Rogan jokingly expressed interest in taking over Rachel Maddow's role, prompting a...
Read moreKanye West sued for sexually assaulting…
23-11-2024
On camera, Kanye West began to choke her with one hand and then "wrapped his other hand around her neck and continued to strangle her with both hands". West smothered...
Read moreBritish teen Marcus Fakana held for sex …
23-11-2024
An 18-year-old British tourist, Marcus Fakana, is facing potential jail time in Dubai for engaging in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Although the girl has since turned 18, their...
Read moreElon Musk was a flaming Democrat, says f…
23-11-2024
Elon was a raging Democrat but now he is embracing his heritage and his destiny, his father said. "When you come from South Africa, Lefties think you're a Nazi. To...
Read moreElon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy know many fed…
23-11-2024
In their joint opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy explained how their Department of Government Efficiency will work and wrap up the work by...
Read morePam Bondi says there is 'no legal basis…
23-11-2024
Former Florida attorney general and Trump's nominee for US attorney General, Pam Bondi, has sparked controversy by advocating for the release of names from the Jeffrey Epstein case files. Bondi...
Read moreRepublican senators eager to see Tulsi G…
23-11-2024
Checking FBI files is a norm for all Cabinet nominees but for Tulsi Gabbard, the senators want to look if some previously unknown information, including possible foreign contacts, come out...
Read moreMSNBC's Joy Reid says Trump govt would s…
23-11-2024
Joy Reid's on-air statement came as she issued a TikTok warning to Republican voters saying that their liberal friends may not welcome them on Thanksgiving because they are rightfully scared...
Read moreWhy Elon Musk's ex-girlfriend Grimes say…
23-11-2024
Grimes shared her struggle in detaching from Musk, whom she once described as the love of her life. She highlighted how his shift towards conservative political ideologies, including his contentious...
Read moreDonald Trump's phone call to Matt Gaetz:…
23-11-2024
The real reason why Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general was a call from Donald Trump hours before Gaetz announced his decision. Despite lobbying efforts by Gaetz, Trump...
Read moreHow Elon Musk added 70 billion dollars t…
23-11-2024
He might as well have been speaking about his new BFF and the nation’s first buddy Elon Musk who just can’t stop winning since Donald Trump came back to power...
Read more