Afghan government-backed negotiators have met senior Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Pakistan and persuaded him to join Afghan peace process, Afghan and Pakistani officials both confirmed here Thursday, Xinhua reported.
Syed Salahuddin Rabbani, chairman of the Afghan High Peace Council, wrapped up his three-day visit on Thursday, which was described as successful by both sides.
"I would say that the Afghan team has achieved its main objectives to meet Mullah Baradar, who can play a key role in the Afghan peace process," an Afghan official told Xinhua in Islamabad on a unidentified condition.
The meeting is also confirmed by an unidentified Pakistani official as he is not authorized to speak. However, official confirmation from both nations still remain unavailable.
Islamabad released the detaining Taliban key figure Baradar in September at the request of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, which paved the way for the Afghan High Peace Council to meet him.
Earlier on the same day, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met Rabbani, reiterating Islamabad's commitment in ensuring peace and stability in his war-hit neighboring country.
However, Taliban had earlier stated that any detainee cannot speak for the group and moves on forcing Baradar to talk about peace will produce no result.