Imran Khan to visits Qatar ahead of US-Taliban deal

KABUL deal expected to be signed in Doha, the country’s capital on February 29.

The deal would be signed at the end of a seven-day Reduction in Violence (RiV) period agreed between the Taliban, US and the Afghan government which enters to its sixth day today.

A statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry received by Pajhwok Afghan News said, “As part of regular exchange of high-level visits, Prime Minister Imran Khan will be visiting Qatar on 27 February 2020 to meet His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.”

The focus will be on strengthening bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on regional developments, the source said.

The Pakistani foreign ministry did not say whether Imran Khan’s visit to Qatar had any links with the US-Taliban deal, but analysts believe that Pakistani prime minister’s visit directly related to the deal.

Pakistan foreign minister,  Shah Mahmod Quraishi talking to reporters on Wednesday said that Qatar has invited Pakistan for attending the ceremony of US-Taliban deal in Doha and the agreement would be signed in presence of that country.

He said that Pakistan discharged its responsibility of facilitating the Afghan peace process and ‘made an impossible task to possible.’

Quraishi said that Imran Khan would not attend the US-Taliban agreement but he personally will be present in the important event.

mds