Pakistan has detained a senior member of the Afghan Taliban, sources in the group say.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the sources told RFE/RL that Hafiz Mohibullah, religious affairs minister when the Taliban ran Afghanistan before the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, was detained in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
There was no immediate comment from Pakistani authorities.
The reported detention comes ahead of a visit to Pakistan by U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, who is touring the region for meetings aimed at bringing an end to the 17-year war in Afghanistan.
Khalilzad has recently held a series of meetings with the Taliban's political office in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The United States and Afghanistan have repeatedly accused Pakistan of providing "safe havens" for the Taliban on its soil. Islamabad rejects the allegation.
The Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) also reported Mohibullah’s detention.
Even though the militant “did not occupy any key position in the Taliban movement currently, he was quite active in the peace efforts,” the news agency said.
Taliban sources told the BBC that Mohibullah had been living in Peshawar for a number of years.
The broadcaster quoted unidentified Taliban figures as suggesting that he had been detained to put pressure on the militant group into meeting Khalilzad in Pakistan, and to agree to meet with representatives of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
The militants have long refused to hold direct talks with Afghan officials, whom they dismiss as "puppets."
Senior Afghan Taliban Member Reportedly Detained In Pakistan Ahead Of U.S. Peace Envoy's Visit
Editor's Picks
Subscribe
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
Afghanistan Slides Into 'Ever More Hellish Conditions' After New Morality Law Enacted
2The Rise Of The Baloch Liberation Army In Pakistan
3Pakistan's Internet 'Firewall' Aimed At Crushing Dissent Upends Livelihoods
43 Years Later, Afghans Still Reeling From Impact Of Devastating Kabul Airport Attack
5Taliban Battles Boredom, Risk Of Fighters Joining Enemy Ranks
6From Allies To Enemies: Relations Between Afghan Taliban And Pakistan Hit Rock Bottom
7'No One Is Safe': Life Under The Rule Of The Pakistani Taliban
8Germany Deports 'Criminal' Afghans To Kabul In First Since Taliban Takeover
9Afghan Evacuees Remain In Limbo In Albania 3 Years After Taliban Takeover
10Afghan Embassy In London To Close After Diplomats Dismissed, Britain Says
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
