ISLAMABAD: Pakistan intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed flew to Kabul on Saturday, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) confirmed, as the Taliban are preparing to unveil a new Afghan government.
Afghanistan's state institutions collapsed when the Taliban took control of most of the country earlier this month and seized Kabul on Aug. 15. The last major holdout against Taliban rule remains in the mountainous northern region of Panjshir.
Gen. Hameed's visit to Kabul comes as fighting continues in Panjshir Valley between Taliban troops and the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRFA), which consists of thousands of fighters from regional militias and Afghanistan's former security forces.
According to a press statement sent from a source at the ISI media department, ISI director general is in Kabul on a day-long visit.
"While in Kabul, he is meeting and working with the Pakistani ambassador and his team on issues of repatriation and transit through Pakistan and situation on Pakistan-Afghanistan border. He will also be meeting Taliban representatives to discuss these issues," the ISI said.
The Pakistani spy chief is in Kabul as the world is waiting to see what kind of government the Taliban will eventually announce, after initial promises that it would be inclusive. Since their capture of Kabul, the Taliban have held talks with Afghan tribal leaders and some former officials, including former president Hamid Karzai and the former government's negotiation chief Abdullah Abdullah.
The ISI is believed to have an influence on the Taliban. Washington has accused it of backing the group's two-decade fight against the US-backed government in Kabul. Pakistan has repeatedly denied the charges.
"Pakistan has certain influence on Taliban but they (Taliban) have many complaints from us," Rustam Shah Mohmand, Afghan affairs expert who had served as Pakistan's envoy to Kabul, told Arab News. "Too much interference in their government formation could backfire."
As the Taliban will need international recognition of their government as Afghanistan's economy has been thrown into disarray following the takeover and most foreign aid payments have been suspended, another analyst said the ISI chief's visit may boost their confidence.
"It will also boost confidence of Taliban that they are not alone and can help in resolving their issues as well," Brig. (Rtd) Mahmood Shah told Arab News.
He added Hameed's visit can be justified internationally as being neighbors the countries have to discuss security challenges.
"The political leadership could not visit Kabul," he said. "Pakistan has not recognized Taliban as a legitimate government so far."
