The Afghan delegation on Wednesday shared information with Pakistani officials about the assassination of former Afghan High Peace Council chief and president Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani, a source told Online.
The delegation, headed by National Directorate of Security (NDS) Deputy Director General Hesamuddin, is comprised of senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Interior and NDS.
“They met their Pakistani counterparts and the talks will also continue on Thursday,” the source said and added that Afghan delegation would also meet Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
When asked about the progress in the Wednesday’s talks, the source said, “I can only say that the talks were not negative but will not say if the negotiations were positive”? He, however, said the environment was cordial.
Rabbani was killed by a suicide bomber at his residence in Kabul on September 20, who met him in the guise of a Taliban messenger. The Taliban had immediately claimed responsibility for the high profile murder, but later denied reports of their claim.
Both sides will issue a joint statement at the end of talks on Thursday, the source said. He offered no comments and said Afghan side had agreed with Pakistan not to talk to the media about the talks.
The delegation was earlier scheduled to arrive in Pakistan in October but Pakistan’s objections over the constitution of the panel delayed the visit.
Pakistan agreed to receive the delegation during the trilateral summit in Turkey earlier this month, sources said. President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai had met on the sidelines of the summit in Istanbul.
Hamid Karzai, had himself announced to send members of the inquiry commission to Islamabad to seek “help from Pakistani brothers” in the investigation process.
Interior Minister Bismillah Muhammadi and several Afghan intelligence officials had alleged that Pakistani security agencies had been involved in the plot they claimed prepared by Afghan Taliban in Quetta. Pakistan had categorically rejected the charges as baseless and had assured cooperation in the probe.
Last month, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had offered to share intelligence on the investigation into the assassination of Rabbani with Afghanistan.
Some Afghan officials have also warned that they would approach the United Nations if Islamabad did not cooperate in investigation.
After tremendous pressure from Afghan opposition, President Karzai had severed all contacts with Taliban after Rabbani’s assassination. He said that Afghan government would now hold direct talks with Pakistan.
