PESHAWAR: Former Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq is in Kabul to hold high-level discussions with Afghan leaders on Islamabad’s security concerns and bilateral issues, sources said, as quiet diplomacy continues despite official denials from both sides.
Previous rounds of talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan have repeatedly stalled. Kabul has sought guarantees that Pakistan will respect Afghan airspace and manage border closures carefully, while Islamabad demands concrete action against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghan soil.
Since arriving on Tuesday, Sirajul Haq has begun discussions on border trade and crossings, with security concerns to follow, according to sources familiar with the talks. The JI leadership has historically played a role in easing tensions, including earlier efforts by ex-member Muhammad Ali Saif in dialogue with Kabul on TTP-related issues.
These discussions mark the first diplomatic engagement between the two neighbors since last year’s border skirmishes, which led to a suspension of border interactions. Sources emphasized that both countries need to address their differences directly through dialogue, without involving third parties, to restore security and trade ties.
