RIYADH, Oct 15: Saudi Arabia is mediating between Taliban and Afghan officials to prevent its ally Pakistan from sliding into violence and to wean the Taliban away from Al Qaeda, diplomats said on Wednesday.

They said Saudi Arabia was worried that militants, including the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies, were succeeding in destabilising Pakistan.

Taliban and Afghan officials attended an iftar in Makkah last month in the presence of King Abdullah. Both Afghan parties have denied that the meeting amounted to reconciliation talks, but Riyadh-based diplomats and a well-placed Saudi analyst said Riyadh was hoping to break the Taliban’s link with Al Qaeda for fear of Pakistan’s future.—Reuters