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              Afghan Taliban Confirms Delegation Visiting Pakistan

   by Ayaz Gul

   Afghanistan's Taliban has confirmed it has sent a "high-level'
   delegation to Islamabad for talks with Pakistani officials, saying it
   hopes the visit will have "fruitful results" and "in the interest of
   both countries."

   A spokesman for the Islamist insurgency told VOA on Wednesday the
   Taliban delegation has traveled from its "Political Office" in Qatar to
   hold the discussions in the light of "close relations, long border and
   commercial transactions" between the two neighboring countries.

   Diplomatic sources say the Taliban delegation is on a mission for
   "exploratory discussions" as part of Islamabad's efforts to facilitate
   peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

   Peace in Afghanistan

   The Taliban's political office in the Qatari capital of Doha is solely
   authorized to conduct political talks.

   "The esteemed leader of Islamic Emirate (the Taliban) has instructed
   the delegation to discuss issues regarding Afghan refugees, some recent
   problems related to (Afghan) border provinces of Helmand, Nangarhar and
   Paktia," Taliban's Qatar-based spokesman Mohammad Naeem told VOA,
   without elaborating.

   Afghan media reports have recently alleged that Pakistani border
   forces tried to establish outposts inside the Afghan territory in
   Helmand, Nangarhar and Paktia, charges Islamabad denies.

   Naeem said Taliban negotiators will particularly discuss with Pakistani
   authorities the release of Mullah Bradar and some other prisoners.

   "The delegation, which is gone (to Pakistan) from here (Qatar) is
   holding talks on the issues that I have stated above and has no other
   particular item on the agenda," Naeem told VOA when asked whether
   reconciliation talks with the Afghan government would also be
   discussed.

   ''

   Prisoner release

   Mullah Bradar, former deputy chief of the Taliban leader, was detained
   by Pakistani intelligence officials in the southern city of Karachi in
   2010 reportedly in a joint operation with American counterparts.

   In 2013, Pakistan, at the request of the then Afghan government, freed
   Bradar along with dozens of other Taliban officials from its custody to
   boost Kabul's efforts to promote the Afghan peace and reconciliation
   process at the time.

   But insurgent sources insisted Bradar remains in Pakistan and local
   authorities have placed restrictions on his movement because Pakistani
   authorities would need U.S. consent to set him free.

   Ghani asks for Pakistani help in the peace process

   Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Monday urged Islamabad to honor its
   commitments of helping in the Afghan peace process or evict Taliban
   leaders sheltering in Pakistan and using their sanctuaries in the
   neighboring country for directing attacks in Afghanistan.

   But a Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman rejected Ghani's allegations
   that Islamabad is supporting insurgent attacks on the Afghan soil and
   reiterated Islamabad was making "sincere efforts" to promote peace
   talks between Kabul and the Taliban.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/afghan-taliban-confirms-delegation-visiting-pakistan/3304525.html