Abdul Qayoum Kochi, Afghanistan’s former ambassador to Russia and uncle of former President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, has said that he rejected an offer to meet Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada during his most recent visit to Afghanistan.
Speaking in an interview with a YouTube channel last night, Kochi said Taliban officials had offered to arrange a meeting with Mullah Hibatullah in Kandahar. However, he declined the offer after being informed of the conditions under which the meeting would take place.
According to Kochi, he was told that Mullah Hibatullah would meet with him for approximately one hour. However, during the meeting, only the Taliban leader would be allowed to speak, and Kochi would not be given an opportunity to express his views. He said he had no intention of participating in such a one-sided meeting.
Kochi added that during his visit to Afghanistan, he had met with Shihabuddin Delawar, head of the Taliban’s Contact Commission, several members of the group’s leadership, and other senior officials.
He also said Taliban officials had asked him about the possibility of his nephew, former President Ashraf Ghani, returning to Afghanistan. In response, Kochi stated that Ghani would not return to the country until the Taliban secured both national and international legitimacy.
Kochi praised some of the Taliban’s actions and emphasized that his visit to Afghanistan was a personal trip with no political connection to Ashraf Ghani.
These remarks come after Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai, Ashraf Ghani’s brother, also stated that Qayoum Kochi does not represent the former president and that his visit to Afghanistan had no connection to Ashraf Ghani.
Taliban officials have not yet commented on Kochi’s statements.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
