Afghanistan, Aug. 9 -- Pakistani media report that the U.S. blocked Amir Khan Muttaqi's planned visit to Pakistan by denying a travel exemption, delaying ongoing diplomatic efforts between Islamabad and Kabul.
The United States blocked a planned visit by Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Pakistan, according to Pakistan's Dawn newspaper. Diplomatic sources said Washington initially delayed and eventually denied the travel exemption required for the trip.
Muttaqi had been scheduled to visit Islamabad last week, but the trip was abruptly cancelled. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry publicly attributed the cancellation to "procedural issues," with spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan assuring that efforts were underway to resolve the...