In a fresh diplomatic engagement after Islamabad announced an operation against Afghanistan-based terrorists, an Afghan Taliban delegation headed by Afghan interim government’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid met Pakistani diplomats on the sidelines of the Doha-III conference.
Pakistan and Afghanistan enjoyed close and brotherly ties as South Asian neighbours which lately become strained due to frequent cross-border attacks largely carried out by the banned outfit — Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — which, according to Pakistan’s security officials, operates from the Afghan soil.
The Afghan interim government’s representatives are currently visiting Doha to attend talks to “discuss increasing engagement with Afghanistan and a more coordinated response to the country, including economic issues and counter-narcotics efforts”.
They were due to meet UN officials and over 20 envoys, including the US special representative to Afghanistan as the international community grappled with its approach to Kabul’s new rulers., according to Reuters.
During their visit, Pakistani Ambassador to Qatar Muhammad Aejaz hosted a dinner for the Afghan Taliban delegation at his residence in Doha which was attended by senior diplomats, including Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Asif Durrani and the country’s Deputy Head of Mission in Kabul Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani.
Durrani posted photos of the occasion on X (formerly Twitter) while welcoming and hosting the Taliban representatives where they discussed developments at the “Doha-III conference, bilateral and regional issues”.
