PESHAWAR, Nov 20: A high-level delegation of the Awami National Party left for Kabul on Thursday to meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his senior cabinet ministers.

“This is part of our (Pukhtun) national strategy. The time has come for a new opening and new initiative to integrate democratic, secular and moderate forces on both sides of the border,” Afrasiab Khattak, who played a key role in the revival of political ties between Kabul and Pukhtun nationalists, in Peshawar told Dawn prior to his departure.

Besides Mr Khattak, the five-member team includes party president Asfandyar Wali Khan, former president Ajmal Khattak, Farid Toofan and Bacha Khan Trust director Amir Ghazan Khan.

Provincial party president Begum Nasim Wali Khan, who was also part of the delegation, dropped out at the last minute owing to a shoulder injury.

During its three-day stay in Kabul, the team is scheduled to meet President Karzai, Vice-president Hidayat Amin Arsala, Defence Minister Marshal Muhammad Faheem, Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah, Education Minister Yunus Qanooni, Minister for Tribal Affairs Arif Noorzai and leader of the Afghan Millat, Nuzhat Milli and National Movement led by Sultan Mehmood Ghazi.

This is the first high-level contact between Pukhtun nationalists in Pakistan and the Afghan government in over a decade.

“This is the restoration of old ties,” Khattak agreed and said:”This is the first step. It has proved those wrong who thought that the chapter of relations between Pakistani nationalists and Afghanistan had closed.”

Kabul had been traditionally supporting and patronising Pukhtun and Baloch nationalists in Pakistan. Their relationship had collapsed when Afghan mujahideen came in power.

The visit has fuelled speculations in political circles here. They attribute the revival of ties between Kabul and Peshawar to a new initiative backed by Washington to encourage secular Pukhtun nationalists to counter-check the growing influence of religious groups and militants in the region.