Taliban leaders meet to mull talks with U.S.

The head of the Taliban has summoned his political envoys to Pakistan for consultations with the movement’s leadership, ahead of a new round of tentative talks with the U.S. to kick-start a peace process.

Seven members of the Taliban’s Doha political office are understood to have arrived in Pakistan earlier this week at the request of Haibatullah Akhunzada.

Their discussions with the leadership will be key in deciding the negotiating stance of the insurgents, ahead of a meeting with American envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.

The internal summit also follows the death in a U.S. drone strike on the weekendofaseniortalibancommander who had been opposed to negotiations.

“This is an important trip and will define lots for the Taliban in the next round of peace talks,” a member of the Doha office told The Daily Telegraph.

“Wewillgowordbyword through the progress of peace talks with the top leaders. We will get their consultation on many issues to be in a better position in next week’s talks with Khalilzad.”

The source said that it was unclear whether the delegation led by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai will meet directly with the head of the Taliban.

Haibatullah is believed to have rarely contacted his envoys when first taking charge of the movement, but now appeared to be taking a keen interest in negotiations.

Khalilzad, Donald Trump’s special envoy to Afghanistan, is visiting countries in the region this week before he is expected to meet the Taliban envoys in Doha.

Pakistan also disclosed on Monday that Trump had asked for the country’s help to start negotiations that could end America’s longest running war.

The U.S. drone on Saturday killed a powerful Taliban military commander who was said to be opposed to talks with the Americans.

Mullah Abdul Manan Akhund, the Taliban shadow governor of Helmand, was killed in the Nawzad district.

His control of the province’s opium crop gave him lavishwealthandindependence within the movement, while his tribesmen had a rivalry with those of Haibatullah, said Graeme Smith, a consultant for the International Crisis Group.

“That made Manan a persistent headache for the Taliban leadership, because he did not always respect orders.

“For example, Manan reportedly was not enthusiastic about the Taliban’s recent decision to engage the United States in peace negotiations.

“He was also running his own foreign policy to some degree, with his own channels to Iran,” he said.

A former senior Taliban member told the Telegraph that “by coincidence or purpose, the eliminating of Mullah Manan and his other hard line colleagues in Helmand will help the Taliban political team to reach an agreement.”