Islamabad: Pakistan’s powerful intelligence chief Lt Gen Faizi hameed, which went awry amid attempts at an unannounced visit to Kabul Taliban Finalizing the government in Afghanistan on Saturday expressed confidence that “all will be well” in the war-torn country.
A delegation of senior Pakistani officials led by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Hameed arrives in Kabul to discuss with the incoming Taliban government Pakistan Observer Newspaper reported.
In a short video clip circulated in the media, Hameed is trying to answer questions from a journalist who had previously asked: “Will you meet senior people in the Taliban?”
“No, I’m not clear…” said the ISI chief and looked at Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul, who stood by his side, to answer the question.
But before Khan could say anything, the journalist raised another question.
“What do you expect is going to happen in Afghanistan now?” He was asked.
Hameed said, “I have just landed…” and looked once again at Khan, who quipped: “We are working for peace and stability in Afghanistan.”
At this Hameed smiled and said: “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
Hameed’s visit to Afghanistan comes at a time when the Taliban is under increasing pressure to form an inclusive government acceptable to the international community.
Earlier, the Pakistan Observer newspaper reported that the ISI chief is expected to meet Taliban leaders and commanders.
“Issues related to Pakistan-Afghan security, economy and other matters will be taken up with the Taliban leadership,” the report quoted sources as saying.
This is the first high-level visit by a Pakistani official to Afghanistan since the Taliban captured Kabul on August 15, astonishing both his enemies and friends.
Since then, the Taliban have been trying to form a government, but have so far withdrew the announcement.
The Taliban has postponed the formation of a new government in Afghanistan to next week, their spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on Saturday, as the insurgent group struggles to shape a comprehensive and inclusive administration acceptable to the international community.
This is the second time the Taliban has delayed the formation of a new government in Kabul since the toppling of the US-backed Afghan government. The rebel group was expected to announce the formation of a new government under its co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on Friday, but later postponed it for a day until Saturday.
According to the Express Tribune, Hameed will also meet Pakistan’s envoy in Kabul and discuss the issue of repatriation and transit through Pakistan of foreign nationals and Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime.
“The issue of pending requests from countries and international organizations for repatriation/transit through Pakistan and the need to determine the mechanism through which Pakistan can allow these, meeting with Taliban officials in coordination with ground officials in Afghanistan Will be discussed during the
Intelligence chief to spend a day in Afghanistan’s capital geo news informed of.
It said that border management is another important issue which will be discussed during Hameed’s visit.
Pakistan was often accused by the Afghan government of providing military aid to the Taliban, a charge denied by Islamabad.
Hameed’s visit to Kabul came after Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa met British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab earlier in the day and said Pakistan would assist in the formation of an inclusive administration in Afghanistan.
Raab arrived in Islamabad on Thursday night to meet Pakistan’s top leadership and discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
A delegation of senior Pakistani officials led by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt Gen Hameed arrives in Kabul to discuss with the incoming Taliban government Pakistan Observer Newspaper reported.
In a short video clip circulated in the media, Hameed is trying to answer questions from a journalist who had previously asked: “Will you meet senior people in the Taliban?”
“No, I’m not clear…” said the ISI chief and looked at Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul, who stood by his side, to answer the question.
But before Khan could say anything, the journalist raised another question.
“What do you expect is going to happen in Afghanistan now?” He was asked.
Hameed said, “I have just landed…” and looked once again at Khan, who quipped: “We are working for peace and stability in Afghanistan.”
At this Hameed smiled and said: “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
Hameed’s visit to Afghanistan comes at a time when the Taliban is under increasing pressure to form an inclusive government acceptable to the international community.
Earlier, the Pakistan Observer newspaper reported that the ISI chief is expected to meet Taliban leaders and commanders.
“Issues related to Pakistan-Afghan security, economy and other matters will be taken up with the Taliban leadership,” the report quoted sources as saying.
This is the first high-level visit by a Pakistani official to Afghanistan since the Taliban captured Kabul on August 15, astonishing both his enemies and friends.
Since then, the Taliban have been trying to form a government, but have so far withdrew the announcement.
The Taliban has postponed the formation of a new government in Afghanistan to next week, their spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on Saturday, as the insurgent group struggles to shape a comprehensive and inclusive administration acceptable to the international community.
This is the second time the Taliban has delayed the formation of a new government in Kabul since the toppling of the US-backed Afghan government. The rebel group was expected to announce the formation of a new government under its co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar on Friday, but later postponed it for a day until Saturday.
According to the Express Tribune, Hameed will also meet Pakistan’s envoy in Kabul and discuss the issue of repatriation and transit through Pakistan of foreign nationals and Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime.
“The issue of pending requests from countries and international organizations for repatriation/transit through Pakistan and the need to determine the mechanism through which Pakistan can allow these, meeting with Taliban officials in coordination with ground officials in Afghanistan Will be discussed during the
Intelligence chief to spend a day in Afghanistan’s capital geo news informed of.
It said that border management is another important issue which will be discussed during Hameed’s visit.
Pakistan was often accused by the Afghan government of providing military aid to the Taliban, a charge denied by Islamabad.
Hameed’s visit to Kabul came after Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa met British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab earlier in the day and said Pakistan would assist in the formation of an inclusive administration in Afghanistan.
Raab arrived in Islamabad on Thursday night to meet Pakistan’s top leadership and discuss the situation in Afghanistan.
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