Exclusive: Pak & Iranian Officials To Discuss Afghanistan In Islamabad

Diplomatic sources informed Afghanistan International that Pakistani and Iranian officials are scheduled to hold a meeting in Islamabad on Sunday.

According to sources, both Islamabad and Tehran are worried about Afghan soil being used against their countries.

Sources told Afghanistan International that a high-ranking Iranian delegation headed by Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran’s special representative for Afghanistan, is set to arrive in Islamabad on Sunday.

According to sources, a delegation of three to four individuals, crucial in shaping Iran's policy towards Afghanistan, is scheduled to meet Asif Durrani, Pakistan's special representative for Afghanistan affairs, and Jalil Abbas Jilani, the interim foreign minister of Pakistan.

Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan and Iran are currently facing a similar situation regarding Afghanistan; although both countries have relatively good relations with the Taliban, however, they have reservations about Afghan soil being used against their countries.

Iranian officials said that Jaish ul-Adl used Tajik attackers in the recent deadly attack in Kerman. According to these officials, the perpetrators of this attack had entered Iran through Nimroz province of Afghanistan.

Sources said that Jaish ul-Adl and other opposition groups of the Iranian government are using Afghan soil. According to them, following the attack in Kerman city of Iran, Qomi had a meeting with Abdul Kabir, deputy prime minister of the Taliban.

Sources indicate that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), labeled as a terrorist group by Islamabad, is active in Afghanistan. With the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, the activities of the Pakistani Taliban have escalated.

Sources said that the investigation into the attacks within Pakistan reveals that the attackers and the weapons employed can be traced back to Afghanistan.

The surge in violence in Pakistan has adversely affected Islamabad's relations with the Taliban in Kabul. Pakistani officials stated that the Taliban have taken no action to curb the activities of the Pakistani Taliban, including their attacks within Pakistan.

On the other hand, Islamabad has forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants from Pakistan, accusing Afghan nationals of being involved in recent acts of violence.

The Taliban in Afghanistan say that TTP is Pakistan's internal problem and has nothing to do with the group.