Pakistan intelligence official meets Mullah Umar’s advisor
Ali Furqan
ISLAMABAD: In a major development to find political solution to end the violence in Afghanistan, Afghan Taliban has quietly opened Political office in Turkish capital Ankara from where they would operate and dialogue with the world including Americans, The Frontier Post has learnt from credible intelligence sources on Saturday.
Prior to opening of political office Pakistan\’s top intelligence official held meeting with political advisor and number two of chief of Taliban Mullah Umar, Agha Mutasimullah Jan in Ankara, where reconciliation process and post NATO/US forces from Afghanistan also came under discussion.
According to the source, the US officials might have meeting with the Taliban leaders in the newly opened \”political bureau of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan\” in Ankara in the coming days.
These intelligence officials who play role in opening Taliban office accompanied Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last week in Turkey, which hosted 8th trilateral summit also attended by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Earlier Taliban refused Saudi government offer to open office in Riyadh however a sub-office of Taliban has also been opened in UAE Capital Abu Dhabi, sources said. On the request of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Pakistan has played a major role in the establishment of Taliban office in Turkey and UAE.
Top intelligence officials from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey also met on the sidelines of this summit and discussed intelligence sharing in combating terrorism and chalked out strategy in the post NATO forces withdrawal scenario in Afghanistan.
A top CIA official also attended one of the meeting and offered cash reward to Taliban leader in return for release of their soldier Bowe Robert Bergdahl reportedly held by Haqqani Network along with Pak-Afghan border. Earlier last year, The Taliban also opened an office in Qatar which was closed later due to the pressure of Afghan government.
Source: http://thefrontierpost.com/article/77607/Afghan-Taliban-open-office-in-Turkey/