Taliban ‘political chief’ Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar visited China ahead of the 7th round of talks with the United States (US), reports Khaama Press on June 17. A former Taliban spokesman Abdul Hai Mutmayen has told Arab News that Mullah Baradar is leading a delegation of Taliban leaders during the visit to Beijing. Mutmayen further added “It seems that Taliban leaders are making efforts to hold consultations and exchange their views with key stakeholders ahead of the next round. The visit is an indication that the seventh round is important.” This comes as China has offered to host intra-Afghan talks in a bid to help end the ongoing conflict in the country. Meanwhile, the Taliban leaders have said the group could accept China as a guarantor if they reach a peace deal with the United States.
Additionally, Taliban has set the timeline on foreign forces withdrawal from Afghanistan as a precondition for engaging in intra-Afghan talks as a delegation from the group is visiting China to meet with officials in Beijing as part of a peace process ahead of their possible talks with the US officials in Qatar, reports Tolo News on June 17. “The exact date will be announced today or tomorrow that when the seventh round [of talks] will start. It is clear that when the Americans announce their decision on the timeline of the withdrawal of their forces [from Afghanistan], it will open the way for intra-Afghan talks so that we can decide on the future government and intra-Afghan talks,” said Suhail Shaheen a spokesman for Taliban's Qatar office.