CIA director in Pakistan for talks on Afghanistan

CIA Director Willian J Burns (left) calls on the Pakistani army chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on September 09, 2021. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

• Visit by Willian J Burns comes two days after Taliban announced interim government made up mainly of ethnic Pashtun men
• CIA director appreciates Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan, including help in evacuation efforts and for regional stability and peace

ISLAMABAD: The director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) called on the Pakistani army chief in Rawalpindi on Thursday and discussed the regional security situation with a focus on Afghanistan, the Pakistan army’s media wing said.
The visit by Willian J Burns comes two days after the Taliban announced an interim government made up mainly of ethnic Pashtun men including wanted terror suspects and hard-liners, dashing international hopes for a more moderate administration.
The Taliban’s new government has agreed to the Thursday evacuation of two hundred Americans and other foreigners who remain in Afghanistan. The departures will be among the first international flights to take off from Kabul airport since the militants seized the capital in mid-August, triggering the chaotic US-led evacuation of 124,000 foreigners and at-risk Afghans.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and current situation in Afghanistan were discussed,” the army said. “It was reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to cooperate with its international partners for peace in the region and ensure a stable and prosperous future for Afghan people.”
The CIA director also appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan, including its help in evacuation efforts and for regional stability and peace.
The Taliban’s announcement of a new government on Tuesday was widely seen as a signal the group was not looking to broaden their base and present a more tolerant face to the world, as they had suggested they would do before their military takeover.
Foreign countries greeted the interim government with caution and dismay on Wednesday. In Kabul, dozens of women took to the streets in protest.
Many critics called on the leadership to respect basic human rights and revive the economy, which faces collapse amid steep inflation, food shortages and the prospect of foreign aid being slashed as countries seek to isolate the Taliban.