The presence of the Taliban leaders and their fighters in Pakistan is a “clear violation of Afghanistan’s national sovereignty,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday, reacting to a recent video of Taliban deputy leader Abdul Ghani Baradar who addressed some members of the group in the of Karachi this week. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a statement said the presence of the Taliban leaders and their members will continue the ongoing crisis and instability in the region and it will challenge the efforts to ensure lasting peace in Afghanistan.

The ministry called on Pakistan to prevent insurgents from using its territory against Afghanistan, adding that closing the safe havens of insurgents and terrorists is pivotal for a peaceful end to the crisis in Afghanistan.

Baradar's Pakistan Visit

Mullah Baradar and the Taliban’s negotiating team visited Pakistan last week shortly after they paused the talks for 23 days two hold consultations with their leaders about issues around the next round of talks that are expected to begin on Jan. 5, 2021. 

A video released on social media showed Baradar among a group of people, apparently Taliban members, in Karachi, Pakistan, where he said that all decisions about the peace process are being finalized in consultation with the Taliban’s leadership and the Taliban’s cleric council in Pakistan.

Baradar said the Taliban’s leadership exists in Pakistan.

The Taliban have so far not commented about the place of Baradar’s meeting with wounded members of the group.

Sources close to the Taliban have said that during his trip to Pakistan, Baradar also met the Taliban senior military commanders and discussions were held about reducing violence.

“Here, though, everything has passed us by, but we are compelled to come because there are not a few people here, our entire leadership is present here in this place (Pakistan),” said Baradar. 

He continued: “When we conduct partial or general negotiations there (Doha), we share the whole process with the leaders and the Ulema council here. We receive back their guidance and act upon it."

In reaction to the video, the Taliban said that Mullah Baradar met with patients and Afghan refugees in Pakistan.