Kabul (TDI): After a prolonged break, Pakistan and Afghanistan have resumed diplomatic engagements aimed at easing tensions that have been exacerbated by the presence of terrorist sanctuaries along the border.
This week, Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires to Kabul, Obaidur Rehman Nizamani, met with Afghanistan’s interim Defence Minister Mullah Yaqub in what marked the first known public contact between the two sides in recent months, The Express Tribune reported.
The meeting took place on Thursday, signaling a renewed effort to address the strained bilateral relations.
The resumption of talks follows a diplomatic visit by the Chinese special envoy, who traveled to both Islamabad and Kabul earlier this week in an apparent bid to ease tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
Also Read: Pakistan, Russia Unite for Prosperous Afghanistan Future
At a weekly briefing on Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed the meeting between Pakistan’s top diplomat in Kabul and the Taliban’s defence minister.
She stated that the discussions were in line with Pakistan’s diplomatic responsibilities in Afghanistan, but refrained from disclosing details of the talks.
“Both sides discussed matters of mutual interest,” Baloch noted, adding that it was not appropriate to publicly share further details about the meeting’s content.
According to a statement from Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, the meeting focused on enhancing joint cooperation and strengthening bilateral relations.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Ties ‘Stable’
Mullah Yaqub, in his remarks, referred to the relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan as “stable” and expressed the Taliban’s willingness to cooperate in the fields of trade, economic development, and other areas.
In response to questions, the Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), asserting that there was no dialogue proposal in place with the banned group.
She emphasized that any suggestion of negotiations with the TTP was an affront to the victims of terrorism in Pakistan, and reaffirmed that Pakistan’s position had been consistently communicated in previous statements.
Also Read: Pakistan removes tariffs on Afghanistan fruits
The deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have primarily been attributed to the issue of cross-border terrorism, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harboring militant groups.
However, Kabul has repeatedly denied these allegations, calling on Pakistan to address its own security issues.
On the subject of foreign nationals involved in anti-government protests in Pakistan, Baloch reaffirmed Pakistan’s position that foreign nationals must adhere to local laws and customs.
She noted that the Ministry of Interior had provided details regarding the involvement of Afghan nationals in protests, and that further information about their stay in Islamabad would be released by the Ministry of Interior.
