Taliban ‘carrying out door-to-door manhunt’

A Taliban commander and senior leader of the Haqqani Network militant group, Anas Haqqani, has met former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai for talks. A Taliban official said on Wednesday, amid efforts by the Taliban to set up a government.

Karzai was accompanied by the old government’s main peace envoy, Abdullah Abdullah, in the meeting, said the Taliban official, who declined to be identified. He gave no more details.

The Haqqani Network is an important faction of the Taliban, who captured the capital, Kabul, on Sunday.

The network, based on the border with Pakistan, was accused over recent years of some of the most deadly militant attacks in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Haqqani Network faction of the Afghan Taliban, known for its fanatical views against women’s freedom, will now look after the security of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul. 

This was decided in a meeting of Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the reconciliation council and Khaleel Haqqani of Haqqani Network, held on Thursday.

Former Afghanistan president Karzai meets Taliban faction chief – group official

However, the police system in Kabul will be overseen by Khaleel Haqqani from the Haqqani Network. Which is a UN to designated terrorist organisation and on which the US has declared an award of $5 million.

This has increased chances of Al Qaeda returning to Kabul as close ties of Haqqani network. Al Qaeda are well known. 

Simultaneously, the intervention of Pak ISI. Which is considered to be the handler of Haqqani Network, will also increase in Kabul.

Meanwhile, Hizb-e-Islami Party chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has said that formal talks on the formation of a Taliban government in Kabul will begin soon.

This conversation will take place between former leaders associated with Afghan politics. The Taliban when all the major Taliban leaders reach Kabul. Hekmatyar said the recent meetings were informal.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have told BBC Pashto that Mullah Baradar has reached Kabul for talks.