Afghanistan wants Pakistan to issue passports to Taliban cadres to facilitate their transit to Arab countries for peace talks, according to an Afghan diplomat.
Despite the collapse of the Qatar peace initiative earlier this year, Taliban negotiators and their families are still living in the Arabian Gulf state. And several more Taliban cadres are in the process of shifting to Qatar and other states.
Saudi Arabia has also invited several Taliban leaders for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage as part of its possible role in the Afghan peace process.
According to Pakistan’s Ambassador in Kabul Muhammad Sadiq, Islamabad was to facilitate the transit of Taliban leaders to Qatar.
“We are negotiating with Pakistanis for passports to Taliban leaders to facilitate their travel to Arab states,” an Afghan diplomat told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.
He added that the Afghan government’s request was in line with an agreement between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States to allow a “safe passage” to reconcilable Taliban leaders and their representatives.
In April this year, the three countries had agreed to form the “safe passage” mechanism to facilitate those Taliban leaders who were willing to renounce violence and negotiate peace. However, the Taliban militia had dismissed it as an attempt to create rifts within its ranks.
This facility [Pakistani passport] will enable the Taliban leaders to hold direct talks with the Afghan government’s representatives and members of the Afghan High Peace Council, according to the Afghan diplomat.
Afghan authorities have also taken up the issue of passports and safe passage with US officials, he added.
The Afghan government’s demand comes amidst reports that Saudi Arabia is keen on actively taking part in the Afghan reconciliation process.
Abdul Hakim Mujahid, a member of the Afghan High Peace Council who had also served as the Taliban’s ambassador in Islamabad, said Riyadh could play an important role in promoting the Afghan peace process.
“The kingdom will be willing to play such a role only if all important regional countries agree to it, show a political will to [solve the] Afghanistan [crisis] and also give up their own interests,” Mujahid told The Express Tribune by telephone from Kabul.
The possible Saudi role is likely to assume more importance in the coming months, as there is no immediate possibility of the resumption of the Qatari initiative.
A Pakistani official also argued that the Saudi role will gain importance if the Qatar deadlock persisted.
In March 2012, the Taliban had walked out of the Qatar talks, accusing the US of reneging on key promises. But several Taliban leaders told The Express Tribune that the talks were suspended after Taliban field commanders raised strong objections to the negotiations.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (22)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Billa the cat aka felix the mano:
There is nothing to do with India or Indians That's Pakistan or Afghan problems you jackass!!!
Why don't they give them American passports?! Should not be a problem, however, If there is some problem then why should 'Afghans' be given Pakistani passports - they are Afghans not Pakistanis - give them Afghan passports and keep them where they actually belong. Totally illogical. Pakistan should refuse pronto!
A citizen can get his passport renewed from any country in the world where his country has consular services. I got my Pakistani passport renewed from Dubai. So why can't Kabul issue Afghan passports to Taliban through their Islamabad embassy? Why they are pushing Pakistan to do this?
They should be issue Afghan diplomatic passports!
Can we give them US Passport, for that matter?
The Mayor of Kabool has lost his barantay( marbles). Get hem Afghan passports as they are Afghanis or may be as their indian brethren.
this is totally a base less arguments from the Afghanistan side, why should we own those people who are not even accepting us as a nation. I say if they want to resolve this so called war and terror then America should give them their passport as every one know that these people are being created by America.
NO! DO NOT give them Pakistani passports, if they are Afghans why can't they get Afghan passports?
good to see not a single comment favouring the request. at least we understand importance of pakistani passport. btw, why should president of pakistan "require and request" travel of afghanis without hinderance? (as stated on the passport?)
there are various ethnic groups joined together under the flag of taliban. there are afghans, arabs of different descent, chechens etc. how can they all be given the pakistani passport? why not arab passport if saudi is too eager to resolve the issue? wasn't bin laden stripped of his saudi nationality? so they'll keep on stripping nationality of saudi taliban & it will be on pak to issue them the passports. how stupid.
FOR GOD SAKE!!! DON'T GIVE THEM PAKISTANI PASSPORT!! My brain is half dead even thinking that the people who shoot Malala would be given a Pakistani Passport as a gift.
excuse me and whats the problem to issue them Afghan passports? or even a travel document under geneva convention? Enough un thankful Afghans already made Pakistani passports by illegel means. Issuing passports to people who are Afghans and do not hold Pakistani citizenship will be an illegel act. on the same note, any NATO-national passport will offer much more freedom of movement without visas!
Why can't they, being Afghan citizens, travel to Qatar (or anywhere else) on Afghan passports?
absurd! how can we give them Pakistani passports??? i say take the Pakistani passports from the millions of afghans living in Pakistan who have illegally gotten Pakistani Passports. Afghans don't like Pakistan but don't mind enjoying their lives here! absurd!
Please DO NOT issue them the Pakistani Passport! And no reason has been given as to why they shouldnt be issued Afghan passports!!
Its a systematic way to give Pakistani identity to taliban and move them away from Afghanistan so that all the issues endup with Pakistan and US will get safe exit from Afghan problems. Few days back Afghanistan president requested UNSC to enlist the Afghani taliban from the sanctions list, which only left with Pakistani taliban (where the hack they come from). Nation should be prepare for repercussion of owning taliban and it will happen because our leaders are the cheapest commodities.
To accuse pakistan again?? Thts wat mentality of Afghans to accuse pakistan again if anything goes wrong.
Issuing Passport to anyone for any purpose means you agree to own that person !
Afghans will be Afghans. Don't EVER give them Pakistani passports.