A senior Pakistan delegation led by the country’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif arrived in Kabul on Tuesday and met with the First Deputy Prime Minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
According to reports, the Pakistani delegation included the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan Mohammed Sadeq, and Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Abdulrahman Nizami.
The Taliban government’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that the delegation discussed bilateral relations, economic issues, and security issues with Baradar and other officials of the Taliban government.
“Regarding security issues and also issues that happen sometimes on the line between the two countries, which cause problems and reduced trade, were discussed,” he said.
Baradar also called for the release of Afghan refugees who are currently in Pakistani prisons, and to facilitate the passage through Torkham and Spin Boldak of Afghan travelers, especially those seeking emergency medical care, a statement from the 1st Deputy Prime Minister’s office said.
“The main discussion would have been security issues, also Pakistan’s request for the Taliban govt’s cooperation against armed groups,” said Tahir Khan, a Pakistani journalist.
“The message that this delegation has, maybe, is the prioritization of focus on TTP, which is the Pakistani Taliban,” said Asadullah Nadim, an Afghan military veteran.
After a deadly attack happened at a mosque in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Peshawar, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said that a delegation would visit Afghanistan.