Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Kabul on Saturday for a day-long visit to discuss security issues that could potentially lead to a thaw in relations between the two neighbours after protracted stalemate over Islamabad’s terrorism concerns.
The much-awaited visit follows the latest round of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee meeting in Kabul. Pakistan’s delegation was led by Ambassador Sadiq Khan, the country’s special representative for Afghanistan.
Speaking to the media before his departure, he said that the two countries share deep-rooted brotherly ties which must be further strengthened, state-media Radio Pakistan reported.
Dar said Pakistan has concerns regarding terrorism and discussions will be held with the Afghan side on this matter.
He highlighted the vast potential for cooperation between the two countries in areas such as trade, economy and investment. Our aim is to foster collaboration that serves the mutual interests of the peoples of both countries as well as the region, he added.
The deputy PM was welcomed at the airport by the dignitaries of the Afghan government, according to a statement by the Pakistan Embassy. The statement added that the Pakistan’s Head of Mission in Afghanistan Ambassador Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani and officers of the embassy were also present on the occasion.
During the visit, Dar will call on Afghan Acting Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund, also meet with Afghan Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, and hold in-depth talks with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a post on X.
A day earlier, FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said, “At the invitation of Acting Afghan Foreign Minister, … Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, will lead a high-level delegation to Kabul tomorrow.”
He said that the talks will cover the entirety of the Pak-Afghan relationship, focusing on ways to bolster cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including security and trade.
The trip comes in light of rising tensions between the two countries, with Afghan refugee deportations, skirmishes along the border, and the increased activity of armed groups within Pakistan since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
Pakistan maintains that these armed groups operate from within Afghan soil, a claim that Afghan officials have denied, maintaining that no one can use Afghan soil against any country.
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