Qatar based Taliban delegation in Karachi for words with Afghan govt

An Afghan Taliban delegation based in Qatar is in Karachi for direct talks with the Afghan government.

The Dawn reports that the Foreign Office has denied knowledge of the delegation's visit.

Following a deadly insurgent attack targeting a security services office in the heart of Kabul, observers have said that Pakistan is pressuring the Taliban to join peace talks, BBC Urdu reported.

Taliban representatives in Pakistan will join the Afghan government at the table during the negotiating process.

The development comes as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani threatened diplomatic reprisals against Pakistan if it refuses to take action against the Taliban.

Ghani's remarks reflect his frustration after he expended substantial political capital since coming to power in 2014 in courting Pakistan in the hope of pressuring the militants to the negotiating table.

"I want to make it clear that we no longer expect Pakistan to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table"Ghani said in a sombre address to both houses of the Afghan Parliament.

"But we want Pakistan to fulfil its promises and take military action against their sanctuaries and leadership based on its soil" added Ghani.

"Despite our sincere efforts for regional cooperation, we will be forced to turn to the UN Security Council and start serious diplomatic effort," Ghani said.

The Afghan president vowed a tough military response against the insurgents and pledged to enforce legal punishments, including executions of convicted militants.