Mincing no words, senior Afghan leader and once a member of the legendary Northern Alliance, Ata Mohammad Noor has termed Pakistan the "birthplace of Taliban".

His comments come days after videos emerged of the Taliban's top leader Abdul Ghani Baradar engaging with followers in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi and confessing to the group's leadership in the country.

Ata, who has been in the past Governor of the northern Balkh province said, "we know that Pakistan is the birthplace of the Taliban and they support them." Adding, "We hope Pakistan will collaborate with us as it will be in the best interests of both nations."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/two-afghan-policemen-killed-as-kabul-hit-by-bomb-blasts-352520" hreflang="en">Two Afghan policemen killed as Kabul hit by bomb blasts</a>

Noor recalled his recent meeting with the top leadership of the country, saying he told them, "foreign insurgents will move their safe havens from Northern Waziristan (Pakistan) to the north of Afghanistan.." Highlighting that he, "warned them against late actions and told them that it’s best we take action today as we will pay a big price tomorrow" and "They kept on coming from Pakistan under the pretext of fighting foreign terrorism. They came and joined the Taliban and improved their presence from Badakhshan to Fariab and Badghis (provinces)"

Earlier this month Taliban's top leadership was in the Pakistani capital Islamabad and met Pakistan foreign minister SM Qureshi and PM Imran Khan. But what raised eyebrows of the Taliban leadership then meeting followers and going to training camps.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/seven-taliban-terrorists-killed-in-airstrike-in-afghanistans-balkh-province-352496" hreflang="en">Seven Taliban terrorists killed in airstrike in Afghanistan's Balkh province</a>

Afghan foreign ministry had taken a strong objection to it and in a strong statement said, "The overt presence and activities of Afghan insurgent elements and their leaders in Pakistani territory clearly violate Afghanistan's national sovereignty and continue to cause crisis and instability in the region" which poses a "serious challenge to achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan."

Noor is currently the Chief Executive of Jamiat-e Islami Afghanistan and was earlier in India as part of the engagements with New Delhi vis a vis the peace process.

Mincing no words, senior Afghan leader and once a member of the legendary Northern Alliance, Ata Mohammad Noor has termed Pakistan the "birthplace of Taliban". His comments come days after videos emerged of the Taliban's top leader Abdul Ghani Baradar engaging with followers in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi and confessing to the group's leadership in the country.

Mincing no words, senior Afghan leader and once a member of the legendary Northern Alliance, Ata Mohammad Noor has termed Pakistan the "birthplace of Taliban". His comments come days after videos emerged of the Taliban's top leader Abdul Ghani Baradar engaging with followers in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi and confessing to the group's leadership in the country. Ata, who has been in the past Governor of the northern Balkh province said, "we know that Pakistan is the birthplace of the Taliban and they support them." Adding, "We hope Pakistan will collaborate with us as it will be in the best interests of both nations." Also read| Two Afghan policemen killed as Kabul hit by bomb blasts Noor recalled his recent meeting with the top leadership of the country, saying he told them, "foreign insurgents will move their safe havens from Northern Waziristan (Pakistan) to the north of Afghanistan.." Highlighting that he, "warned them against late actions and told them that it’s best we take action today as we will pay a big price tomorrow" and "They kept on coming from Pakistan under the pretext of fighting foreign terrorism. They came and joined the Taliban and improved their presence from Badakhshan to Fariab and Badghis (provinces)" Earlier this month Taliban's top leadership was in the Pakistani capital Islamabad and met Pakistan foreign minister SM Qureshi and PM Imran Khan. But what raised eyebrows of the Taliban leadership then meeting followers and going to training camps. Also read| Seven Taliban terrorists killed in airstrike in Afghanistan's Balkh province Afghan foreign ministry had taken a strong objection to it and in a strong statement said, "The overt presence and activities of Afghan insurgent elements and their leaders in Pakistani territory clearly violate Afghanistan's national sovereignty and continue to cause crisis and instability in the region" which poses a "serious challenge to achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan." Noor is currently the Chief Executive of Jamiat-e Islami Afghanistan and was earlier in India as part of the engagements with New Delhi vis a vis the peace process.

Pakistan birthplace of Taliban, says top Afghan leader Ata Noor

Senior Afghan politician Ata Mohammad Noor is in Delhi for talks with the Indian leadership. CEO of Jamiat Party Ata Noor is India's close ally in Afghanistan and has in the past served as the governor of northern Balkh province in Afghanistan.

In 2016, he had personally taken up arms to repel a terrorist attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif and protected it. During the Taliban rein in the country in 1990s, Noor had served as a commander in Ahmad Shah Massoud's Nothern front.

Noor, an ethnic Tajik is the 3rd prominent Afghan leader to visit India in last one month. Earlier Abdul Rashid Dostum, former vice president of Afghanistan and Chairperson of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation Dr Abdullah Abdullah had visited India.

Interestingly, Noor's son Khalid Noor is part of the Afghan government's negotiating team for intra-Afghan talks. In fact, at 25, Khalid Noor is the youngest member of the team negotiating with the Taliban.

Earlier this year, speaking to WION, Khalid said, his "vision for his country is peaceful, independent and democratic Afghanistan" and "even if the Taliban tries to come to Afghanistan by force, they will face the national army and people Afghanistan and it will unrealistic to say that the Taliban came to Afghanistan the way they came in 1996." 
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Senior Afghan politician Ata Mohammad Noor is in Delhi for talks with the Indian leadership. CEO of Jamiat Party Ata Noor is India's close ally in Afghanistan and has in the past served as the governor of northern Balkh province in Afghanistan.

Senior Afghan politician Ata Mohammad Noor is in Delhi for talks with the Indian leadership. CEO of Jamiat Party Ata Noor is India's close ally in Afghanistan and has in the past served as the governor of northern Balkh province in Afghanistan. In 2016, he had personally taken up arms to repel a terrorist attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif and protected it. During the Taliban rein in the country in 1990s, Noor had served as a commander in Ahmad Shah Massoud's Nothern front. Noor, an ethnic Tajik is the 3rd prominent Afghan leader to visit India in last one month. Earlier Abdul Rashid Dostum, former vice president of Afghanistan and Chairperson of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation Dr Abdullah Abdullah had visited India. Interestingly, Noor's son Khalid Noor is part of the Afghan government's negotiating team for intra-Afghan talks. In fact, at 25, Khalid Noor is the youngest member of the team negotiating with the Taliban. Earlier this year, speaking to WION, Khalid said, his "vision for his country is peaceful, independent and democratic Afghanistan" and "even if the Taliban tries to come to Afghanistan by force, they will face the national army and people Afghanistan and it will unrealistic to say that the Taliban came to Afghanistan the way they came in 1996."

Senior Afghan politician Ata Mohammad Noor in Delhi for talks

Senior Afghan leader and a close ally of India, Ata Mohammad Noor on Wednesday met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla in Delhi. During the talks, he briefed about the Afghan Peace Talks or the intra-Afghan talks between Afghan Govt and Taliban and how they are progressing.

A tweet by the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla welcomed Afghan leader Ata Mohammad Noor to India"

Adding, "Appreciated his insights and perspectives on recent developments. India remains committed to peace, prosperity and stability in Afghanistan."

Present during his meeting were Chargé d' Affaires of Afghan embassy Tahir Qadiry and Joint Secretary in PAI division of MEA, JP Singh.

Noor, an ethnic Tajik is the 3rd prominent Afghan leader to visit India in last one month as peace talks in the country accelerate.&nbsp;

Earlier Abdul Rashid Dostum, former vice president of Afghanistan and Chairperson of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation Dr Abdullah Abdullah had visited India.

In 2016, he personally took up arms back to repel a terrorist attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif &amp; protected it. During the Taliban rein in the country in the 1990s, Noor had served as a commander in Ahmad Shah Massoud's Northern front.

He is currently CEO of Jamiat Party and in the past served as the Governor of Northern Balkh Province in Afghanistan.

Interestingly, Noor's son--Khalid Noor is part of the Afghan govt's negotiating team for Intra Afghan talks. In fact, at 25, Khalid Noor is the youngest member of the team negotiating with the Taliban.

Senior Afghan leader and a close ally of India, Ata Mohammad Noor on Wednesday met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla in Delhi.

Senior Afghan leader and a close ally of India, Ata Mohammad Noor on Wednesday met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla in Delhi. During the talks, he briefed about the Afghan Peace Talks or the intra-Afghan talks between Afghan Govt and Taliban and how they are progressing. A tweet by the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla welcomed Afghan leader Ata Mohammad Noor to India" Adding, "Appreciated his insights and perspectives on recent developments. India remains committed to peace, prosperity and stability in Afghanistan." Present during his meeting were Chargé d' Affaires of Afghan embassy Tahir Qadiry and Joint Secretary in PAI division of MEA, JP Singh. Noor, an ethnic Tajik is the 3rd prominent Afghan leader to visit India in last one month as peace talks in the country accelerate. Earlier Abdul Rashid Dostum, former vice president of Afghanistan and Chairperson of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation Dr Abdullah Abdullah had visited India. In 2016, he personally took up arms back to repel a terrorist attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif & protected it. During the Taliban rein in the country in the 1990s, Noor had served as a commander in Ahmad Shah Massoud's Northern front. He is currently CEO of Jamiat Party and in the past served as the Governor of Northern Balkh Province in Afghanistan. Interestingly, Noor's son--Khalid Noor is part of the Afghan govt's negotiating team for Intra Afghan talks. In fact, at 25, Khalid Noor is the youngest member of the team negotiating with the Taliban.

Afghanistan's Ata Mohammad Noor meets EAM, Foreign Secretary in Delhi; briefs about the Afghan peace process