The US has asked the Taliban to form an “inclusive government” in Afghanistan, which it says should be “representative of different communities and different interests in Afghanistan”. Major world powers, including the US, China, Russia and the European Union (EU), are of the view that there is no rush to formally recognise the Taliban.
Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, the chief of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, on Saturday paid his maiden visit to Kabul after the takeover of the Afghan capital by the Taliban on 15 August, local news agency Khaama Press reported.
A picture of Hameed and the Pakistani delegation interacting with Mansour Ahmad Khan, Islamabad's envoy to Afghanistan, at Kabul's Serena Hotel, was also shared by Linsey Hilsum, a British journalist from Channel 4.
Hilsum quoted Hameed as saying that he was in Kabul “to meet” the Pakistani ambassador, as he refused to disclose if he would also be meeting the Taliban leadership.
The ISI chief's visit comes against the backdrop of discussions within the Taliban over Afghanistan's new government. Bilal Karimi, a Taliban spokesperson, was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan on Saturday that the new government will be announced very soon.
However, there have also been reported differences between Abdul Ghani Baradar, athe Taliban's co-founder, and Anas Haqqani over some key appointments in the new government. Anas is the brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani, who heads the…
