Will visit Pakistan when convenient, says Shahin

KABUL’s invitation and looking for a proper time to visit Islamabad.

Some reports say Pakistan has invited 13 Taliban leaders to visit the country and 12 of the insurgent group representatives have confirmed receiving Pakistani visas from the country’s embassy in Doha.

Reports say five Taliban leaders who have lately been released from Guantanamo Bay prison may not be part of their Qatar office representatives traveling to Pakistan.

Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had also said he would soon meet with the Taliban delegation.

Suhail Shahin, Taliban’s spokesman for its Qatar office, talking to Pajhwok Afghan News, said, “Based on our policy, whenever a country invites us we think about it and then decide to go there.”

He said Pakistan had also invited them and they would travel to the country when convenient.

To a question about Mullah Baradar’s lack of interest to visit Pakistan, he said, “No, it is our policy that when a country invites us, we deliberate, think and decide to accept it or not.”

A credible source in Qatar told Pajhwok that a Taliban delegation is expected to travel to Pakistan but some of the group leaders in Qatar did not like to visit the country.

The source said Mullah Baradar, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai and son of Ustad Yasir did not want to travel to Pakistan.

Some other sources said the Taliban delegation from Qatar would include Mullah Abbas, Latif Mansoor and Mullah Manan, brother of Mullah Mohammad Omar and they will meet Imran Khan and other Pakistani officials.

The Taliban’s Pakistan visit is expected in the next two weeks.

mds/ma

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