Taliban, Afghan government engaged in dialogue in Islamabad: Report

ISLAMABAD: The Taliban and Afghan government negotiators are engaged in secret talks in the Pakistani capital as part of the peace and reconciliation process to end more than a decade of bloodshed, according to a media report.

The talks come after Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had said last month that the Afghan government representatives and the Taliban were expected to meet in a week's time.

The Afghan government is being led in the talks by Deputy Foreign Minister Hikmat Khalil Karzai while the Afghan Taliban side includes former deputy foreign minister Mullah Jalil and senior leader Qari Din Muhammad, the Express News reported.

This is a follow-up meeting to the recently held talks in Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang province.

However, the Afghan Taliban spokesperson denied having any knowledge of the talks in Islamabad.

"I do not have any information and will share if there is any," Zabihullah Mujahid told the daily.

Taliban had decided to distance themselves from the peace talks last month as well after Aziz confirmed that negotiations were being facilitated.

Observers say that Taliban want to keep the talks under the wraps to continue their offensive in Afghanistan.