Pakistan has come to realise the need for peace in neighbouring Afghanistan and relations between the uneasy neighbours are warming, according to the senior official overseeing Kabul's negotiation efforts with the Taliban insurgent group.
Abdullah Abdullah said he had received “a positive sense” after three days of meetings in Islamabad, including discussions with the generals believed to set Pakistan's Afghan policy.
The comments from the three-times former presidential hopeful follow years of accusations from Kabul that Pakistan is stoking violence in Afghanistan by giving safe havens and support to the Taliban.
His remarks also chime with recent western diplomatic assessments that Pakistan has used its links with the militants to push them toward negotiations.
Dr Abdullah, the chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, spoke as government and Taliban envoys try to break an impasse over setting ground rules for formal negotiations in the Qatari capital Doha, and violence continues to kill or maim scores each week.
In an interview with The National, Dr Abdullah said his discussions with Pakistan's political and military leadership had left him optimistic that the neighbours had turned a corner in their relations.
“Things have evolved in the region, there have been changes in the region, in the geopolitics of the region.
“The leadership here in Pakistan, the whole establishment, are speaking with a much more unified message. The need for peace is perhaps sensed more than any other time today here. This is an opportunity.”
Pakistan supported the Taliban from the movement's birth in the 1990s, in what was seen as part of its wider regional competition with India. Afghan and Nato generals have long accused Islamabad of allowing the Taliban to operate from Pakistani soil and aiding the militants' resurgence after they were ousted in 2001.
Yet the cost to Pakistan of fighting domestic terrorism that spilled over from the Afghan conflict, as well as the prospect of increased peacetime trade with Central Asia has prompted a reassessment in recent years, diplomats believe.
Pakistan has been applauded by Washington and Kabul for its role getting the militants to the negotiation table. Islamabad's help has repeatedly been sought when discussions have stalled.
A Pentagon assessment released in March said Pakistan still “likely views increased Taliban influence in Afghanistan as supporting its overall objectives”.
It “has encouraged the Afghan Taliban to participate in peace talks, but refrained from applying coercive pressure that would seriously threaten its relationship”.
Dr Abdullah said Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan's chief of army staff, had personally told him he wanted to secure peace and economic prosperity for the neighbours.
Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, said he had enjoyed meeting Dr Abdullah and advised Afghanistan not to dwell on the past.
“We had a very interesting conversation, the theme being the past is an invaluable teacher to learn from, but not to live in. We must look forward towards the future. I wish him all the success in his mission,” Mr Khan tweeted.
Talks between the Taliban and Afghan government have become bogged down in setting the ground rules. The Taliban, who are Sunni hardliners, had insisted on strict adherence to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, but government negotiators worry this could be used to discriminate against Shia minorities. The Taliban also refuse to recognise the legitimacy of the Afghan government as part of a talks framework.
A ceasefire to halt bloodshed is top of the government's agenda, although it is thought the Taliban will be unlikely to give up the military pressure which serves as their biggest bargaining chip.
Dr Abdullah said: “The fact that the suffering of the people continues, that the level of violence is so high, that's not sustainable forever; we need to look at it with urgency.”
UAE v Zimbabwe A, 50 over series
Fixtures
Thursday, Nov 9 - 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 11 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Monday, Nov 13 – 2pm, Dubai International Stadium
Thursday, Nov 16 – 2pm, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 18 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
