ISLAMABAD: Afghan Taliban have confirmed they have sent a high level delegation to Islamabad for talks with Pakistani officials saying it hopes the visit will have fruitful results and in the interest of both countries.
A spokesman for Afghan Taliban Muhammad Naeem told VOA on Wednesday the Taliban delegation has traveled from its Political Office in Qatar to hold the discussions in the light of close relations, long border and commercial transactions between the two neighboring countries.
Diplomatic sources say the Taliban delegation is on a mission for exploratory discussions as part of Islamabad’s efforts to facilitate peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
The Taliban’s political office in the Qatari capital of Doha is solely authorised to conduct political talks.
The esteemed leader of Islamic Emirate (the Taliban) has instructed the delegation to discuss issues regarding Afghan refugees some recent problems related to (Afghan) border provinces of Helmand Nangarhar and Paktia, Taliban’s Qatar based spokesman Mohammad Naeem said.
Afghan media reports have recently alleged that Pakistani border forces tried to establish outposts inside the Afghan territory in Helmand Nangarhar and Paktia charges Islamabad denies.
Naeem said Taliban negotiators will particularly discuss with Pakistani authorities the release of Mullah Bradar and some other prisoners.
The delegation which is gone (to Pakistan) from here (Qatar) is holding talks on the issues that I have stated above and has no other particular item on the agenda, Naeem said when asked whether reconciliation talks with the Afghan government would also be discussed.
Mullah Bradar former deputy chief of the Taliban leader was detained by Pakistani intelligence officials in the southern city of Karachi in 2010 reportedly in a joint operation with American counterparts.
In 2013 Pakistan at the request of the then Afghan government freed Bradar along with dozens of other Taliban officials from its custody to boost Kabul s efforts to promote the Afghan peace and reconciliation process at the time. INP
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