Head of Taliban ruling council arrives on Monday

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Head of Taliban ruling council Mulla Mohammad Rabbani arrives in Islamabad on Monday (January 31) on two-day visit for wide-ranging talks with Pakistani leaders on regional and bilateral issues, official and Afghan sources said Saturday.

Rabbani, second in Taliban hierarchy, will be accompanied by an 18-member high level delegation, including 8 ministers, the sources told NNI. The visit follows this week trip to Pakistan by Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil.

The Taliban leader will hold meetings with President Rafiq Tarar and Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf on host of issues.

Asked about agenda for the meetings between Mulla Rabbani and Pakistani leaders the sources said the agenda is open and everything could be discussed. "There is no major difficulty between the two sides and minor things would come for discussions," they said.

The sources replied in affirmative when asked if the controversy over Afghan Transit Trade would be taken during the talks.

This will be Rabbanis first visit to Pakistan after the political changes in October last year. There had been no change in Pakistans policy towards Taliban and there has been growing interaction between the two sides since then.

Rabbanis visit to Pakistan marks intensification of diplomatic efforts for the peaceful solution of the long-standing Afghan conflict. Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharrafs quest for the establishment of a representative government and his initiative to jointly work with Iran for restoration of peace in the war-shattered country evoked appreciation.

The US Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth had welcomed General Musharrafs plan to engage the neighbouring Iran in peace efforts and said Washington has been encouraged by Pakistan Chief Executive statement for the establishment of a representative government in Afghanistan.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, in his meeting with his Afghan counterpart Wakil Ahmed Mutawakil, had called finding out a peaceful solution to the long-standing Afghan turmoil.

The newly appointed UN Secretary Generals envoy to Afghanistan Francesc Vendrell is also arriving in Pakistan on February 3 on his first visit to the region.