ISLAMABAD: Afghan Taliban government has reached out to new government in Pakistan, seeking talks to resolve issues that have threatened to unravel their bilateral relationship, according to people familiar with development.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have troubled relationship since months over Taliban’s refusal to neutralise banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

Tensions had been running high when Shehbaz Sharif was heading PDM government before elections.

Pakistan virtually severed official contacts with Taliban regime, though, both sides remained in touch informally. Visit of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was part of informal channels to sort out differences between two countries.

For this purpose, Pakistan’s acting Aambassador to Kabul Obaidur Rahman Nizamani travelled to Kandahar earlier this week to meet senior aide of Taliban supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada. Nizamani travelled out of Kabul for first time since he survived an assassination attempt in Afghan capital last year.

Nizamani held talks with Mullah Shirin Akhund, who is governor of Kandahar and close aide of Taliban supreme leader.  Media centre office in Kandahar posted on its social media platform X that meeting between Nizamani and Mullah Akhund took place in Kandahar.

Sources said Taliban government was keen to resolve all issues through dialogue. Kabul is still sticking with its stance that Pakistan has to find way out of TTP problem through dialogue. Prime Minister Shehbaz was already briefed by foreign secretary on major challenges including relationship with Afghanistan.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 14 2024

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