The head of the Taliban has summoned his political envoys to Pakistan for consultations with the movement's leadership, ahead of a new round of tentative talks with America to kick start a peace process.

Seven members of the Taliban's Doha political office are understood to have arrived in Pakistan earlier this week at the request of Haibatullah Akhunzada.

Their discussions with the leadership will be key in deciding the negotiating stance of the insurgents, ahead of a meeting with American envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.

The internal summit also follows the death in a US drone strike at the weekend of a senior Taliban commander who had been opposed to negotiations.

“This is an important trip and will define lots for the Taliban in the next round of peace talks,” a member of the Doha office told the Telegraph.

“We will go word by word through the progress of peace talks with the top leaders. We will get their consultation on many issues to be in a better position in next week talks with Khalilzad”.