Information obtained by Afghanistan International reveals that the Taliban has cancelled a scheduled trip of a Pakistani army delegation to Kandahar, in response to recent air and missile strikes by Pakistan in Paktika province.
Originally, the delegation was to travel from Rawalpindi to Kandahar on Sunday. Security sources from Pakistan, confirming to Afghanistan International, stated that the cancellation by the Taliban was officially attributed to "weather conditions", although it is widely believed that the real reason was the air strikes on Paktika that occurred on Thursday. The specifics of the attack and any casualties remain undisclosed.
Previously, Afghanistan International had accessed a document indicating that Pakistan had detailed the aircraft, flight times, and arrival information to the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs through an official letter sent to Kabul. The cancelled meeting was supposed to involve "mid-level" military officials from Pakistan and Mohammad Ali Hanafi, also known as "Mullah Shirin Akhund," who is a close aide to Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Pakistani sources had earlier confirmed that discussions were to focus on border management and the issue of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan alleges that the TTP has recently increased its presence in Afghanistan and has been launching attacks from there into various Pakistani cities.
As of now, the Taliban has not issued an official statement regarding the Pakistani air force's attacks on Paktika or the reasons behind the cancellation of the Pakistani delegation's trip.
