ISLAMABAD – Afghan Taliban have spoken about relations with Pakistan aftercoming into power in Kabul.
In an exclusive interview with *DawnNewsTV*, Taliban spokesman ZabiullahMujahid has said that if the Taliban do end up having a say in the Afghanpolity one day, they will approach Pakistan “as a brother and a neighbour”,seeking “comprehensive ties based on mutual respect, just as we seek suchrelations with all other neighbours.”
He acknowledged that Pakistan had remained “the most important hub” forAfghan refugees during the Soviet invasion, and that it was even considereda “second home” by Afghans.
Speaking to *DawnNewsTV*, Mujahid also outlined the motivation for talkswith the US, the conditions in which they are prepared to negotiate andtheir vision for a new political order, while insisting that the Talibanare holding talks with the United States “on their own initiative”.
Responding to a question regarding the timing of the talks, Mujahidexplained that, even prior to the US invasion, the Taliban had askedWashington to engage in dialogue instead of war.
He added that they had eventually even opened a political office in Doha in2013 for this purpose, but Washington had been unwilling to negotiate atthe time.
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The spokesperson said that now that the US is willing to talk, they havedecided to engage with them.
On a question regarding Pakistan role in bringing the Taliban to thenegotiating table, Mujahid said: “There is no role being played by anyoutside country. This has always been our own initiative and policy.”
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