Khalid Pashtoon, spokesperson for the National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan, has denied reports of a meeting between the council’s leadership and a high-ranking delegation from Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
Speaking to Afghanistan International, Pashtoon clarified that while no such meeting had taken place, the council remained open to dialogue if Pakistan were to send a delegation focused on “peace and improving conditions in Afghanistan.”
Earlier, sources had informed Afghanistan International that a senior delegation from Pakistan’s intelligence agency was scheduled to meet former Afghan officials and jihadist figures in Istanbul. The reported meeting was expected to include prominent figures such as Abdul Rashid Dostum, Salahuddin Rabbani, Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, Mohammad Mohaqiq, and Karim Khalili.
According to these sources, the discussions aimed to strengthen Pakistan’s engagement with opposition groups to the Taliban and explore the possibility of reopening their political offices in Islamabad.
However, Pashtoon dismissed these claims, asserting: “If Pakistan wants to meet with the Resistance Council, it is a form of engagement, and such meetings should not be considered wrong or sinful.”
Referring to the differing perspectives within Pakistan’s government and military, Pashtoon noted that while the Pakistani government opposes the Afghan Taliban, “Pakistani military personnel are present in Kabul and Kandahar, advising Taliban ministries.”
He also confirmed that the council’s leadership had recently met with a delegation of U.S. peace researchers in Ankara, Türkiye, though he refrained from disclosing details of the discussions.
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, Pakistan has repeatedly accused the group of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. However, the Taliban has consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that Afghan territory will not be used against any country.
