ISI chief rushes to Kabul amid Taliban govt formation

A delegation of senior Pakistani officials led by ISI chief Lt Gen Hameed arrived in Kabul on Saturday to conduct discussions with the incoming Taliban government, a report said

Islamabad, Sept. 4: In a surprise move, Pakistan’s powerful intelligence chief Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed on Saturday dashed to Kabul, according to media reports here, amidst the Taliban struggling to finalise and install an inclusive government in Afghanistan that would be acceptable to the international community.

A delegation of senior Pakistani officials led by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general Lieutenant General Hameed arrived in Kabul to conduct discussions with the incoming Taliban government, the Pakistan Observer newspaper reported.

The ISI chief is expected to meet top Taliban leaders and commanders. “Issues relating to PakAfghan security, economy, and other matters will be taken up with the Taliban leadership,” the report said, quoting sources.

According to the Express Tribune, Lt Gen Hameed will also meet Pakistan’s envoy in Kabul to discuss the matter of repatriation and transit through Pakistan of foreign nationals and Afghans fleeing Taliban rule.

“The issue of pending requests from countries and international organisations for the repatriation/transit through Pakistan and the need to determine the mechanism through which Pakistan could allow these, in coordination with the ground authorities in Afghanistan will be discussed during the meeting with the Taliban officials,” it said, quoting sources.

The intelligence chief will spend a day in the Afghan capital, the Geo

News reported.

Lt Gen Hameed’s visit to Kabul came as Pakistan’s Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa met with British foreign secretary Dominic Raab earlier in the day and said that Pakistan will assist in the formation of an inclusive administration in Afghanistan.