Afghan Taliban delegation to meet PM Imran

Delegation led by Mullah Baradar will arrive in Islamabad on Wednesday and hold talks with PM, FM Qureshi

ISLAMABAD:

Mullah Baradar Akhund, head of the Taliban's political office in Qatar and deputy political leader of the insurgent group, will be in Islamabad on Wednesday as part of the ongoing efforts to seek a peace deal in Afghanistan.

Baradar, who co-founded the Taliban movement with late Mullah Omar, is leading a high-level delegation, said a statement issued by the Taliban's spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the Afghan delegation will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and hold talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday.

"The delegation will discuss issues of mutual interest. In particular, problems of refugees, relaxation and facilitation of afghan’s movement to Pakistan, as well as the problems of Afghan traders are envisaged to be discussed," the statement added.

This is the third visit of Mullah Baradar to Pakistan and the latest trip comes as Taliban and Afghan government took a 20-day break in their talks taking place in Doha.

After months of negotiations, the two sides recently agreed on the rules of engagements for the next phase of talks on the political future of Afghanistan and the comprehensive ceasefire.

The visit of Taliban delegation comes two days after Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative for Afghanistan, visited Islamabad and met Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

He expressed concern over the break in talks, saying the current situation warranted urgent steps to reach a peace deal.

He hoped that the intra-Afghan talks would resume on January 5.

It is believed that Khalilzad sought Pakistan's help in making sure that there is no delay in the intra-Afghan talks.

The push for seeking a peace deal continues despite President Trump lost the elections. The incoming President Joe Biden may continue with the peace efforts but seek more concessions from the Taliban particularly on the ceasefire.