Include us or leave country: Pak tells Taliban after being sidelined in talks

Two senior Taliban figures say that Pakistan has issued a stark warning to the militant group, apparently surprised over being excluded from the insurgents’ secret talks with the Afghan government.

Two senior Taliban figures say that Pakistan has issued a stark warning to the militant group, apparently surprised over being excluded from the insurgents’ secret talks with the Afghan government.

Supporters of the Pakistan army wave the Pakistan flag during a rally in Islamabad. Two senior Taliban figures said the Pakistan government issued an ultimatum to the militant group over including them in their secret talks with Afghanistan. (Reuters File)

The two figures said Islamabad old the Taliban to either include Pakistan in the negotiations or have all the top Taliban leaders leave the country with their families.

The Islamabad ultimatum was expressed to a three-person Taliban delegation visiting Pakistan from Qatar, where the militant group’s political office is located.

Read | Taliban reject reports of secret talks with Afghanistan

The two Taliban figures, who are familiar with the meetings in Islamabad, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks.

Pakistan’s government refused to comment on Monday. It denies Afghan accusations that Islamabad is providing a safe haven to the Taliban.