Kabul consulted on Taliban’s Islamabad visit: MoFA

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Monday said the Afghan government was consulted on a Taliban delegation’s visit to Pakistan.

A statement from the ministry said the government was coordinated about the Taliban’s trip to Islamabad.

Led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban delegation travelled to Pakistan from Doha in response to an official invitation from Islamabad.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Taliban delegation’s visit to Islamabad was in consultation with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and was planned after Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Kabul.

“Pakistan wants to cooperate in the Afghan peace process and Afghanistan appreciates the neighbor country’s efforts for peace”, the ministry added.

The statement said the Afghan government has shared the real hopes of Afghan people with Pakistani government and it emphasized on reduction of violence, ceasefire and ending the conflict through peace talks.

Kabul hopes the Taliban delegation’s visit to Islamabad would be fruitful in achieving these goals, the ministry said, adding the Afghan government respected the neighbor country’s efforts for the Afghan peace.

The nine-member Taliban delegation arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday morning.

During the three-day visit, the delegation is scheduled to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

A Taliban delegation had also visited Islamabad a few months ago.

Mds/ma