Pakistan Invites Prominent Taliban Opponents to Islamabad Meeting After Eid al-Fitr

Sources have told Afghanistan International that Pakistan has invited a number of prominent political currents opposing the Taliban to Islamabad. At least two officials confirmed discussions about traveling to Pakistan.

An official from one of the military fronts opposing the Taliban confirmed that meetings have been held among politicians opposing the Taliban, where the invitation from Pakistan was discussed. A meeting with representatives of prominent currents opposing the Taliban and officials from the previous government is likely after Eid al-Fitr, though the final list of participants is not yet available.

Another source said Pakistan is increasing political support for Taliban opponents through this meeting and seeking the formation of an inclusive government including all ethnicities, religions and women in Afghanistan. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of hosting terrorist groups like the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a claim denied by the Taliban but confirmed in UN reports.

Separately, the Taliban media office in Nangarhar province announced that, based on a ruling from the group's Supreme Court, 377 people were released from the central prison and sentences of 351 others were reduced. Among the released were 22 women and 26 children, according to Maulvi Suhail Saeed, head of prisons in the province.

Taliban prison officials in Helmand reported the release of 596 prisoners from the central prison there, with sentences reduced for 163 others. The announcements did not specify the crimes or prison terms of those affected.

The UN sanctions committee updated its list, adding Azizur Rahman Abdul Ahad, third secretary of the Taliban embassy in the United Arab Emirates. It removed names of at least 39 Taliban officials from the previous list, including Shahabuddin Delawar, head of the Taliban Red Crescent; Abbas Stanekzai, deputy political minister of foreign affairs; and others such as Hamdullah Naumani, Hamidullah Akhund Shir Mohammad, Noorullah Noori, Jan Mohammad Madani Ekram, Yahya Haqqani and Mohammad Taher Anwari.