RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Afghan Taliban on Wednesday announced that the next round of dialogue with the United Sates will take place in Islamabad on February 18, 2019 to advance the peace process.

According to a statement issued by spokesperson for the Taliban Zabihullah Mujahid, the negotiating team of the Taliban will also call on Prime Minister Imran Khan during their stay in Islamabad.

“As the negotiations process continues to take place between the ‘Islamic Emirate’ [Taliban] and the United States and meetings have already been held in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, the next round will resume on the 25th of February 2019 in the Qatari capital of Doha as per agreement reached during the previous meeting,” the spokesperson said.

Similarly, he stated that on the formal invitation of the government of Pakistan, another meeting is scheduled to take place between the negotiation teams of Islamic Emirate and the United States on 18th of February 2019 in Islamabad where the negotiation team of Taliban will also meet with the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to hold comprehensive discussions about Pak-Afghan relations and issues pertaining to Afghan refugees and Afghan businessmen.

However, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal neither confirmed nor denied the next round of the dialogue to take place on 18 February in Islamabad.

Earlier, the Taliban’s political deputy Mullah Biradar Akhund announced new 14-member delegation for peace talks with the US which included, Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai, head of delegation, Mawlavi Ziaurrahman Madani, Mawlavi Abdulsalam Hanafi, Shaikh Shahabuddin Dilawar, Mullah Abdul Latif Mansoor, Mullah Abdul Manan Omari, Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, Mullah Mohammad Fazal Mazlom, Mullah Khairullah Khairkhwah, Mawlavi Matiulhaq, Mullah Mohammad Annas Haqqani, Mullah Noorullah Noori, Mawlavi Mohammad Nabi Omari and Mullah Abdul Haq Wasiq.