Taleban likely to meet Saudi CP in Pakistan
There are strong indications representatives of the Afghan Taleban will meet Prince Salman during their visit of Pakistan on February 18
A Pakistani official
peshawar — Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is likely to meet Afghan Taleban representatives during his visit to Pakistan starting on Sunday, Pakistani government sources said, part of efforts to broker an end to Afghanistan’s 17-year-old civil war.
Pakistan has been playing an increasingly vital role in the Afghanistan peace talks, which have been gathering momentum in recent months amid a growing US desire to pull out its troops.
Two senior Pakistani officials said the crown prince was likely to meet Afghan Taleban representatives in Islamabad, where the militants say they are due to meet US representatives and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.
“Though it is top secret so far, there are strong indications representatives of the Afghan Taleban will meet Prince Salman during their visit of Pakistan on February 18,” one of the Pakistani officials in Islamabad said.
A senior Taleban leader in Qatar said no decision had been made on whether they would meet the crown prince.
“Actually meeting Prince Salman is not in the plan so far but we can discuss it when we are in Islamabad,” said the Taleban representative.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office and Saudi Arabia’s government did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The crown prince is expected to to leave Pakistan on Monday after signing a raft of investment agreements in the energy sector for more than $10 billion.
Historic ties
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy historic relations, information minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Saturday.
“We are tied with Saudi Arabia in economic and social ties, based on Islamic brotherhood,” the federal information minister said in an interview to a Saudi TV channel.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visits to Saudi Arabia have strengthened relations between the two sides, said Fawad. “Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have positive ties, hence positivity is being portrayed in the media,” the information minister said, adding that Pakistan was fully cooperating with Saudi information ministry to jointly promote the existing brotherly relations between the two nations.
“Pakistan has the world’s highest snow peaks, seas and natural beauty,” the minister said, adding that he desired that people of the Arab countries come to Pakistan instead of going to Europe for tourism. — Reuters, APP