Afghan Wolesi Jirga speaker, other officials 'leave for Islamabad'

Afghan media says officials left for Islamabad today

ISLAMABAD:

Speaker of the Afghan Wolesi Jirga Mir Rehman Rahmani and other officials of the government left for Islamabad, Pajhwok Afghan News reported on Sunday.

"It is said that the Speaker of the Wolesi Jirga Mir Rehman Rahmani, Haji Mohammad Mohaqiq and a number of other leaders and officials left for Islamabad on a PIA flight," the news agency claimed on Twitter.

ویل کیږي چې د ولسی جرګې رییس میر رحمان رحماني، حاجي محمد محقق او یو شمیر نور مشران او چارواکي د پی ای ای په الوتکه کې اسلام اباد ته روان شول. pic.twitter.com/G0TTcOINmK

— Pajhwok Afghan News (@pajhwok) August 15, 2021

 

While the objectives of the arrival remain unclear, chances of a dialogue seem certain amid the rapidly changing situation in Afghanistan due to the continuous Taliban gains against the security forces.

Pakistan is likely to host a regional conference on Afghanistan to be attended by foreign ministers of the immediate neighbours of the war-torn country as well as other stakeholders as part of a diplomatic push to prevent a civil war there.

“We are planning to host foreign ministers of the key regional countries on the Afghan situation,” a senior Pakistani official told The Express Tribune requesting anonymity.

Read Taliban now 50km away from Kabul as US scrambles to evacuate

The official added that they could not provide the list of invitees. However, sources said foreign ministers of the neighbours of Afghanistan including Russia, China, Iran and other stakeholders including Turkey would attend the conference.

The idea behind the initiative is to discuss the latest situation and evolve a consensus in order to prevent a civil war in Afghanistan.

The neighbours of Afghanistan are concerned that the deteriorating situation in the war-torn country would have a negative impact on the region.

Pakistan has a central role in the Afghan endgame, but as the situation deteriorates in the neighbouring country, there are elements within Afghanistan as well as in the US which are holding Islamabad responsible for the mess.