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Pak ISI chief arrives in Kabul to help Taliban in govt formation

As the Taliban is all set to announce the formation of the new government amid the ongoing clashes in the Panjshir valley, the Pakistan ISI chief Gen. Faiz Hamid arrived in Kabul on Saturday. Faiz Hameed is one of the highest-ranking foreign officials to travel to Kabul since the Taliban takeover.

Pakistan ISI chief Gen. Faiz Hamid
Pakistan ISI chief Gen. Faiz Hamid

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Published : Sep 4, 2021, 8:30 PM IST

New Delhi: As the Taliban is all set to announce the formation of the new government amid the ongoing clashes in the Panjshir valley, the Pakistan ISI chief Gen. Faiz Hamid arrived in Kabul on Saturday. He was invited by the Taliban leadership council. According to reports, Pak envoy to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan received him. Faiz Hameed is one of the highest-ranking foreign officials to travel to Kabul since the Taliban takeover.

Although there is no clarity in the purpose of his visit, according to Nisar Ahmad Sherzai, leader of the Afghanistan Democratic People's Party and a political-civil activist, who is in constant touch with the Northern Alliance in Panjshir Valley said the ISI chief is in Kabul to review the govt formation and mediate between the groups. He said that it is the ISI chief who will help the Taliban to form the government and reorganize the Afghan military.

One of the Pak Journalists tweeted, “Whatever meetings I will be having, my Ambassador @ambmansoorkhan will be the one arranging them. We are working for peace and stability in Afghanistan”, says DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed during an off-the-cuff interaction with the media upon arrival in Kabul".

Although Pakistan denies giving military aid and other assistances to the Taliban, the international community including countries like the US and earlier Afghanistan government has been accusing Pakistan of its nefarious activities. Notably, it is often said that the Taliban leadership has direct contact with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.

Meanwhile, India's Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla has said Pakistan has nurtured and supported the Taliban and that many elements are Pakistan supported, so its role has to be seen in that context. Earlier this month, Pakistan's interior minister Sheikh Rashid during his interaction with media in Islamabad admitted that the country has been a custodian of Taliban leaders. He also said that Pakistan has taken care of the Taliban for a long time.

Read: Taliban again postpone Afghan govt formation announcement

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