Taliban arrive in Pakistan for talks

A delegation from the Afghan Taliban has arrived in Pakistan to discuss the ongoing peace process with the Pakistani leadership ahead of expected intra-Afghan dialogue, a spokesman for the militant group, as well as Pakistani diplomatic officials, said on Sunday. Foreign Office Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry confirmed the report saying that the “delegation has been invited to Pakistan to discuss the way forward in the Afghan peace process”. The development came days after the Afghan government released some 80 key Taliban figures to pave the way for direct peace talks. “A high-level Islamic Emirate [Taliban] delegation led by deputy political chief, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has left for Pakistan upon the invitation of the country’s 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,” Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheensaid in a series of tweets on Sunday night. He did not offer any further details, including which Pakistani leaders the Taliban delegation would meet and the duration of the visit. A senior official of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry told foreign media on condition of anonymity that the Taliban delegation was expected to hold meetings with “Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership” on today (Monday). Earlier in the day, Pakistan strongly rejected Indian foreign ministry spokesperson's irresponsible comments on the joint statement of the Second Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue and malicious propaganda against the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).


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