Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed on Saturday hosted his counterparts from China, Russia, Iran and Tajikistan in Islamabad to “discuss ongoing developments in Afghanistan.”
It is learnt that chiefs of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan spy agencies were also attended the meeting.
They agreed on intelligence sharing to ensure peace and stability in the war-torn Afghanistan, reported ARY News.
The meeting also discussed the measures required for lasting peace and stability in the region following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
The meeting of regional intelligence chiefs suggested Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to develop consensus on Afghanistan.
Pakistan is keen that the world, particularly the regional countries, do not leave Afghanistan alone.
The meeting is also significant in the context of possible negative fallout of instability in Afghanistan on its neighbours.
Pakistan, Russia, China and central Asian states are worried that instability in Afghanistan may jeopardise the security of the entire region.
They are particularly concerned over terrorist outfits such as ISIS-Khorasan that pose threats not just to the people of Afghanistan but also Pakistan, China, Iran and Russia.
There have been visits recently undertaken by foreign ministers of several countries as well as intelligence chiefs.
American CIA chief and British intelligence agency MI6 head also travelled to the region making stopovers in Islamabad and New Delhi.
The meeting of regional countries’ spy chiefs was held after ISI DG Lt General Faiz visited Kabul on September 4 where he met the Taliban leadership, Hezb-e-Islami Chief Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and others to discuss the latest situation in Afghanistan.
During his meeting with the Taliban delegation, the two sides discussed travel procedures along the Pak-Afghan border and security issues to adopt a joint mechanism to stop elements that could take advantage of the ongoing situation and disturb the peace on both sides of the border.
The DG met Gulbuddin Hekmatyar the next day and discussed issues formation of an inclusive Afghan government.
