KABUL – CEO of the National Unity Government (NUG) Abdullah Abdullah said on Sunday that “most of the Taliban’s leaders are based in Pakistan.”
“Taliban’s trip to Pakistan is not news because they are there and carry out all their activities from there,” Abdullah said at a press conference when asked about the visit of Taliban delegation to Islamabad for briefing Pak leaders on the latest Qatar talks.
Regarding the Qatar peace talks held last week, he said: “I don’t know details over government’s peace talks with Taliban in Qatar.”
The Taliban said the discussions being held in Pakistan follow successful contacts made with both Afghan and US officials in recent months.
Abdullah meanwhile said that during his trip to Saudi Arabia he discussed the Afghan peace process and that Saudi officials “showed interest in helping Afghanistan in the peace process.
He said that at the meeting “terrorism issues were also discussed with Saudi Arabian officials – which is a threat to the region” and added that “Saudi Arabia also had same views over fighting against terrorism.”
He also discussed economic cooperation between the two countries, investments in Afghanistan and cultural cooperation.
“A delegation will come from Saudi Arabia to look at investing in the economic and other sectors in Afghanistan,” he said.
“Discussions were also held over building of a clinic in Afghanistan. This will start soon,” according to Abdullah.