Leader of Hizb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan (Afghanistan’s Unity Party), Mohammad Karim Khalili, leading a delegation, will arrive in Islamabad today, Monday, January 11, said a statement issued by Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
Mr. Khalili visits Pakistan on an official invitation by Pakistan’s government. During his three-day visit, Mohammad Karim Khalili will meet Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss developments in Afghan peace talks and regional affairs. He also hold meetings with Pakistan’s national assembly speaker, Asad Qaiser, Pakistani foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and other senior Pakistani officials, according to the statement.
Pakistan has a key role in Afghan peace. The country shares a long border with Afghanistan. Last year, as the Afghan peace talks started in Doha, Qatar, on September 12, Pakistan’s foreign minister virtually attended the opening ceremony of Afghan talks, saying that his country would support an enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan.
“The visit of Ustad Karim Khalili is part of Pakistan’s ongoing policy to reach out to political leadership in Afghanistan to forge common understanding on the Afghan peace process and deepen people-to-people linkages,” the statement said.
Khalili’s visit of Pakistan comes at a time when the second round of peace talks is underway in Doha.
Last month, a Taliban delegation led by the group’s deputy leader, Mullah Ghani Baradar, visited Pakistan. Baradar met with Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan and other top Pakistani diplomats and officials.
Ever since the beginning of intra-Afghan talks, several Afghan leaders have visited Pakistan to discuss progress in peace talks and future relation between the two countries. In November last year, Imran Khan too visited Kabul. Mr. Khan held meetings with Afghan officials. He said Pakistan would support Afghan peace process.
