Muttaqi due in Islamabad for talks this week

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Afghanistan’s top diplomat is scheduled to arrive this week in Islamabad for talks on counter-terrorism and other issues of bilateral interest.

A well-placed source told Pajhwok Afghan News Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi would stay in Pakistan from May 5 to May 8 for talks with senior officials.

He will meet Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on ways of addressing common challenges, including the threat posed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Bilawal Zardari is expected to raise Pakistan’s concerns about TTP involvement in recent attacks in different cities and the group’s hideouts across the Durand Line.

For its part, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly said it will not allow any outfit or individual to use its territory against anyone.

In February, a high-level Pakistani delegation headed by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had travelled to Kabul for negotiations on a joint campaign against terrorism.

Pakistan’s spymaster and other officials were part of the delegation that urged the caretaker Afghan government to rein in TTP militants.

“We are pretty optimistic of a positive response from IEA to our request for counter-terrorism cooperation,” said the source who did not want to be named.

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