To push forward the Afghan peace process, a delegation of Afghan Taliban's Doha political office is likely to visit Pakistan soon for a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan and other senior relevant officials. Diplomatic sources told Business Recorder that a delegation led by Taliban's co-founder and deputy head Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is expected to visit Islamabad in coming few days to discuss the ongoing efforts for peace in the war-torn Afghanistan.
The visit, according to sources, is taking place in the wake of Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent visit to the US where during his talks with President Donald Trump he reiterated his commitment to continue engaging with the warring groups in Afghanistan in a political dialogue for resolution of the Afghan conflict.
While in the US, Prime Minister Khan expressed the desire to meet the Taliban leadership on his return to Islamabad, as an earlier planned meeting in February this year was called off when Afghan government expressed its reservations.
"This time, the meeting will be held with the consent of the Afghan government," the source added. Suhail Shaheen, the spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Doha, in an interview this week, also expressed Taliban's readiness to visit Islamabad and meet Prime Minister Khan.
"Due to the hectic efforts of Pakistan, Taliban have also shown flexibility to participate in the intra-Afghan dialogue and more talks on the subject as well as other issues in debate between the US and the Taliban are likely during the visit of the Taliban's delegation", the sources said, adding that efforts are also continuing for a formal dialogue between the Taliban and the Kabul administration. He stated that the delegations of the US and Taliban are scheduled to meet for the 8th round of dialogue in Doha soon and further breakthrough is expected on issues such as a possible ceasefire, timeframe for complete withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan while the Taliban have already assured the Americans that in future Afghanistan's soil will not be used for terrorism against any country.
The sources further said that the future power-sharing agreement in Kabul is one of the crucial issues on which talks between the Taliban and other political groups in Afghanistan could be held after an agreement is finalized between the US and the Taliban.
When contacted, Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal expressed his inability to confirm the visit of the Taliban delegation. However, he stated that Pakistan is facilitating the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process as a shared responsibility. He said that the US and Taliban are holding direct talks. "Pakistan believes that the solution to the Afghan conflict lies in a politically negotiated settlement. In the same spirit, Pakistan has facilitated direct peace talks between the US and the Afghan Taliban," he said.
He further stated: "We are noting progress with keen interest and hope that the recent intra-Afghan talks would lead to a more comprehensive and all-inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue." He said that Pakistan's role in taking forward the peace process is being recognized by all stakeholders, adding that the negotiations on peace terms are still continuing.
"The process should be Afghan owned and Afghan led. Final decision is to be taken by the Afghans themselves. Pakistan will continue to play its role," he added.