Pakistan Confirms ‘Unofficial’ Visit Of Delegation To Kabul
Pakistan’s foreign ministry says the three-member Pakistani delegation that recently travelled to Kabul was not sent by the government, it was personal.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry says the three-member Pakistani delegation that recently travelled to Kabul was not sent by the government, it was personal.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi said at a press briefing on Thursday that Islamabad had not dispatched any official delegation to hold talks with the Taliban.
He said the individuals who travelled to Afghanistan were respected figures, but their visit was not organised by the Pakistani government.
Earlier, sources in Kabul told Afghanistan International that the delegation included Pakistani religious and jihadi figures, Maulana Fazlur Rahman Khalil, Maulana Abdullah Shah Mazhar and Maulana Sajid Usman.
According to the sources, the purpose of the trip was to explore ways to reduce tensions between Kabul and Islamabad.
The Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman also said Islamabad’s policy toward Afghanistan had not changed and that Pakistan had received no guarantees from the Taliban that attacks by militant groups from Afghan territory would stop.
Andrabi said the United Nations also had evidence regarding the issue.
Responding to a warning by the Taliban defence minister that Pakistan could be targeted if Afghanistan were attacked, he said Pakistan was already under attack.
He added that border crossings between the two countries remain closed and no new decision has been made on reopening them.
In another part of his weekly briefing, Andrabi reiterated Pakistan’s security concerns, saying Islamabad expects Afghan territory not to be used against Pakistan.
He said Pakistan wants effective action to prevent militant groups, which Pakistani officials say operate from inside Afghanistan, from launching attacks against the country.
