A Pakistani security delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif along with DG ISI has arrived in Kabul for talks with officials of the interim Afghan Taliban government on security-related matters.
According to the Foreign Office, “A high-ranking delegation led by the Minister for Defence is in Kabul today to meet with officials of the Afghan Interim Government to discuss security-related matters including counter-terrorism measures,”
The Security delegation met with the Acting Deputy Prime minister of the Afghan Taliban Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
The delegation includes Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan, and Kabul mission head Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani.
In a separate statement about the meeting, the office of the Afghan deputy PM stated that the two parties discussed economic cooperation, regional connectivity, trade, and bilateral relations during the meeting.
“Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbors and should have cordial relations. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants expansion of commercial and economic relations with Pakistan as such relations are in the interest of both countries,” the statement quoted Mullah Baradar as saying.
The Taliban leader said that political and security concerns should not affect business or economic matters.
He also asked the officials to release Afghans being detained in detention facilities in Pakistan.
Baradar further added that passengers at Torkham and Spin Boldak should be well-facilitated, with special consideration being given to emergency patients. The statement added that Pakistani delegation assured Afghanistan of the aforementioned issues.
