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PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN-US-TALIBAN-TALKS
Taliban co-founder heads to Pakistan amid report of US envoy visit
ISLAMABAD, Oct 2, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Taliban co-founder Mullah Baradar was
due in Pakistan Wednesday to hold talks with officials, the militant group’s
spokesman said, as unconfirmed reports suggested US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad
was already in Islamabad.
If so, it could provide the first known opportunity for the two to meet
since US President Donald Trump last month abruptly scuttled talks with the
Taliban that were seeking a way for Washington to exit its longest war.
Insurgent spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted that the Pakistan visit
will be the fourth leg of a tour that included Russia, China and Iran.
Baradar is head of the Taliban’s political wing and usually based in
Qatar, where for nearly a year the insurgents held face-to-face meetings with
a US delegation led by Khalilzad.
The two sides were on the brink of a deal that would have seen Washington
begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in return for various security
promises from the Taliban.
On September 7, however, Trump called off a top-secret summit due to be
held between the US and the Taliban at Camp David and declared the talks
“dead” two days later.
The Taliban threatened more violence, but both the insurgents and the US
left the door open for negotiations to resume — with most experts agreeing
Washington will have to return to the table eventually.
Dawn, Pakistan’s largest English-language daily, reported that Khalilzad
had arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday, although it did not give a source. There
was no immediate confirmation from the Pakistani Foreign Office or the US
embassies in Islamabad or Kabul.
A senior Taliban source in Pakistan told AFP that the group was aware of
Khalilzad’s visit and was ready to meet him.
“We have not backtracked from talks,” the source added. “It was America
who backtracked.”
Another senior Taliban militant said it would be “up to Mullah Baradar,
who is leading the delegation, to decide whom they would like to talk to”.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1310 hrs