Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and chief of Inter State Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed landed in Kabul on Thursday and were received by the foreign minister of Taliban regime, Amir Khan Mutaqqi. This is Qureshi’s first visit to the country after the Taliban captured Afghanistan but ISI chief has been a regular visitor to the country.
Pakistani Qureshi arrives in Kabul .he holding talks with FM Mutaqqi, he will also meet other Afghan leaders. First visit by a Pakistani minister since Taliban took control of Kabul. pic.twitter.com/vaMOB2q16c
— Tariq Ghazniwal (@TGhazniwal) October 21, 2021
Unlike his other secret visits, his first visit to Kabul had hit news headlines when he had rushed to sort out the internal disputes among Taliban leaders over their government formation. After getting the lion’s share for the pro-Pakistani Haqqani militants in the Taliban government, he had remarked “Don’t worry, everything will be ok.”
Also Read: Pak ISI mocks at UN — installs Haqqani network terrorists in key positions in Afghanistan
Pakistani Qureshi arrives in Kabul .he holding talks with FM Mutaqqi, he will also meet other Afghan leaders. First visit by a Pakistani minister since Taliban took control of Kabul. pic.twitter.com/vaMOB2q16c
— Tariq Ghazniwal (@TGhazniwal) October 21, 2021
According to Afghan media, more than a dozen civilian and military officials are also a part of the delegation of Pakistani FM Qureshi.
#Kabul : Afghan PM Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund received 🇵🇰 FM Qureshi at Arg.Bilateral talks underway in presence of leading Afghan Ministers facilitating people to people interaction, trade, transit & connectivity betw two brotherly nations. #ISI chief also present. #Afg pic.twitter.com/Ebwfmc4B50
— PakAnalystSA 🇿🇦 🇵🇰 (@PakAnalyst) October 21, 2021
The meetings will focus on ways to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields, say Taliban officials. The visit is taking place after the recent meeting of officials from China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Russia in Moscow and ahead of an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers of neighbours of Afghanistan plus Russia in Tehran next week.
So far the Taliban have failed to win recognition for their government. The United Nations and the international community have told them to prioritize the ensure basic human rights and to establish a truly inclusive government for lasting peace.
It is believed that several Taiban ministers, leaders and commanders are not happy with Pakistan for “interfering” too much in Afghan’s internal affairs.
“We do not give anyone the right to interfere in our internal matters, if someone deliberately tries to interfere, we also possess the right to interfere in their internal matters,” said one Taliban minister.
One Taliban general Commander Mobeen called Imran Khan a puppet and raised questions about the legitimacy of his position as Prime Minister. “Imran Khan did not come to power owing to public consensus, he is called a ‘puppet’ inside Pakistan,” he told the Afghan Ariana news.
There have been tensions reported on the Pakistan and Afghanistan border along the Durand Line. Islamabad has not allowed hundreds of trucks loaded with pomegranates to enter into Pakistan.
Also Read: Taliban goes for the kill in Panjshir with ISI Chief in command
