WASHINGTON: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday said he would try meet with the Taliban in an effort to persuade the group to meet with the Afghan government, as the United States seeks to end the nearly 18-year-old war.
“I will meet the Taliban and I will try my best to get them to talk to the Afghan government,” Khan said during an appearance at the US Institute of Peace in Washington.
Khan said a Taliban delegation had wanted to meet him a few months back but he did not because of opposition from the Afghan government.
The United States and the Taliban are getting closer to a deal that is expected to be centered on a US pledge to withdraw troops in exchange for a Taliban promise not to let Afghanistan be used as a base for terrorism, officials say.
However, the Taliban have refused to negotiate with the government, denouncing it as a US puppet, but in an effort to foster Afghan reconciliation, a 60-strong delegation of citizens met the Taliban for two days of talks in Qatar from Sunday.
Pakistan’s role in the peace negotiations is a delicate one.
Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of supporting the Taliban, a charge Pakistan denies, saying it has suffered heavily from the fighting.
The United States has also pressed Islamabad to do more to curb militant groups based in its territory.
Even as talks continue, the Taliban and the government have continued fighting.
Afghan government forces mistakenly killed seven civilians, including children, in an attack on militants south of the capital, a provincial official said on Monday, the latest victims of a war undiminished by peace talks.
Pakistan Prime Minister Khan says will try to persuade Taliban to meet Afghan government
Pakistan Prime Minister Khan says will try to persuade Taliban to meet Afghan government
- Says Taliban had wanted to meet him a few months back but he didn’t due to Afghan government opposition
- Taliban have so far refused to negotiate with the Kabul government, denouncing it as a US puppet regime
Islamic military coalition delegation in Pakistan to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation
- Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is a 43-member alliance formed to consolidate Muslim countries’ efforts in countering “terrorism”
- IMCTC’s 17-member delegation will inaugurate a special training program aimed at countering “terrorism” during week-long visit, says state media
ISLAMABAD: A 17-member delegation of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) is undertaking a week-long visit to Pakistan, aimed at strengthening joint efforts and cooperation against “terrorism,” Pakistani state media reported on Monday.
The IMCTC is a 43-member military alliance that was formed on Saudi Arabia’s initiative in December 2015 to consolidate Muslim countries’ efforts in countering “terrorism.” The alliance features Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine, UAE, Bangladesh and other Muslim nations.
“The purpose of the visit is to strengthen joint efforts and cooperation in the fight against terrorism,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported. “The visit of the delegation symbolizes a strong alliance between the Islamic world in the fight against terrorism.”
The IMCTC delegation will be led by its Secretary General Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, Radio Pakistan said. It will also inaugurate a special training program aimed at countering “terrorism” during its visit, the state broadcaster said.
Pakistan’s former army chief Gen. (retd) Raheel Shareef was appointed as the IMCTC commander-in-chief in 2017.
Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with most Muslim countries around the world, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council countries. In September 2025, Pakistan signed a landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia according to which an act of aggression against one country will be treated as an act of aggression against both.
