Dr Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of HCNR (High Council for National Reconciliation) on the meeting held with Khalil Al-Rahman Haqqani and his accompanying delegation of Taliban in Kabul at his residence. Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai was also present at the meeting.
They exchanged views on the security of citizens in Kabul and across Afghanistan and unity and cooperation for the future of the country.
Dr Abdullah asked the Taliban leaders to pay attention and prioritise the security and protection of the life, property and dignity of the people. Referring to the concerns of the citizens of Kabul and other provinces, he emphasised that the collective security of the people, protecting their life and property should be the main priority.
Dr Abdullah reiterated his official position that he supports an independent and unified Afghanistan based on justice and fairness and said that history shows that in the absence of social justice, providing security and strengthening national unity is impossible.
Haqqani assured the participants that they will work hard to provide the right security for the citizens of Kabul and asked for the help and support of political leaders and elders of the country to provide security for the people.
In the first sign of engagement with the Taliban since the ouster of the Afghanistan government, key political leaders such as Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah met Haqqani on Wednesday.
The former Afghanistan president has formed a Coordination Council along with High Council for National Reconciliation of Afghanistan chairman Abdullah Abdullah and former Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to ensure a peaceful transfer of power. However, talks between the two sides were stuck owing to certain "unacceptable conditions" imposed by the Taliban.
The Haqqani Network is an important faction of the Taliban based on the border with Pakistan.