Afghan Taliban share details of US talks with Pak

Islamabad, Jan 25: The Afghan Taliban have provided Pakistan the "functional blueprint" of their formal talks with US officials in Qatar, probably the first time that the militants have shared details of their parleys with American negotiators.

The Afghan Taliban shared details of what they will be discussing with the US but did not divulge what had been previously discussed, said an Afghan leader privy to the developments.

He claimed that a senior Qatari official was playing an important role in the talks.

"The Taliban have asked Pakistan to point out if it has any objection to the issues they have prioritised for talks with the US," the Afghan leader said.

The Afghan Taliban also informed the Haqqani network on the dialogue with the US and futures plan, he said.

Nasiruddin Haqqani, the elder brother of warlord Sirajuddin Haqqani, recently travelled to the United Arab Emirates and met the top Taliban negotiator, Tayyeb Agha, to discuss the Taliban-US interaction.

"Nasiruddin could not travel to Qatar for some reason and went to Dubai to meet with Agha," the Afghan leader said. Agha flew to Dubai to meet the Haqqani network leader.

The Afghan leader, who requested not to be identified, met Nasiruddin on his return from Dubai.

The Afghan leader did not confirm media reports about the release and subsequent repatriation of some Taliban prisoners from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

However, he said Taliban negotiators had asked for the release of several key prisoners from Guantanamo, Bagram, Pul-e-Charkhi and other prisons as they would be part of the "formal negotiations".

PTI