After a prolonged break, Pakistan and Afghanistan have rekindled diplomatic engagement in a bid to ease tensions, which have been exacerbated by concerns over terrorist sanctuaries along the border.
This week, Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul met with Afghanistan’s interim Defense Minister Mullah Yaqub. The Thursday meeting marked the first known public contact between the two nations in recent months.
The resumption of talks comes shortly after a visit by China’s special envoy to both Islamabad and Kabul, signaling a renewed diplomatic push by Beijing to ease relations between the two countries.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed the meeting between Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires Obaidur Rehman Nizamani and Mullah Yaqub, explaining that the discussion was part of ongoing diplomatic efforts. “It is the responsibility of our diplomats to engage with Afghan officials,” Baloch said, noting that the specifics of the discussions would not be disclosed.
During the meeting, Nizamani emphasized the need for expanding cooperation and strengthening bilateral ties. Mullah Yaqub described the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan as “stable” and expressed the Taliban administration’s readiness to collaborate with Islamabad in areas like trade, economics, and beyond.
On the topic of talks with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch firmly rejected any such discussions. She reiterated Pakistan’s clear stance, which has been voiced multiple times, stating that any proposals for dialogue with the TTP are offensive to the victims of terrorism.
The strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has primarily been centered around the issue of terrorist sanctuaries. Pakistan has repeatedly pointed to these sanctuaries as the cause of a surge in terrorist activities, while Kabul denies the allegations and instead calls on Pakistan to improve its internal security.
Regarding recent protests in Pakistan involving Afghan nationals, Baloch emphasized that foreign nationals participating in political activities in Pakistan is unacceptable. She added that the Ministry of Interior would release details about the ongoing situation and policies concerning the stay of Afghan nationals in Islamabad.
On another matter, Baloch addressed rumors about a visa ban for Pakistani nationals by the UAE, stating that there was no blanket ban. She clarified that the issuance of visas is the sovereign right of the UAE and that issues related to Pakistani nationals’ visa status continue to be discussed with UAE authorities.
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