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Pakistan PM to Be First Head of State to Meet Taliban

Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - Pakistan's prime minister is expected to become
   the first head of state to meet the Taliban leadership since the
   militant group's ouster from power in 2001. An Afghan official
   confirmed, on the condition of anonymity, that the move has the Afghan
   government's consent.

   "It's coordinated with the Afghan side," the official said, adding that
   Pakistan was expected to brief the Afghan government after the meeting.
   The news broke on Pakistan's state media early Thursday.

   "Special Assistant to Prime Minister Naeem-ul-Haq has said Imran Khan
   will meet the Taliban leader soon for the peaceful resolution of Afghan
   crisis," a story published on Radio Pakistan's website said.

   A similar meeting was set up in February in Islamabad but was canceled
   at the last minute after strong objections from the Afghan government.
   Haq said that a recent visit by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to
   Pakistan, however, which both sides hailed as a success, helped in
   confidence-building.

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