Taleban foreign minister visits Pakistan

The foreign affairs spokesman of the Taleban authorities in Afghanistan has arrived for talks in Pakistan -- one of only three countries which officially recognise the Taleban as the legitimate Afghan government.

The official, Wakil Ahmad Motawakkil, flew in a United Nations aircraft from Kabul to Islamabad to evade international sanctions which bar Afghan airline connections.

Afghan officials in Kabul said Mr Motawakkil's trip would pave the way for a visit by a senior Taleban leader, Mohammad Rabbani, who heads the militia's council in Kabul.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service