Islamabad, 29 November 2022 (TDI): Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar arrived in Kabul today for a one-day official visit. She is expected to meet the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi.

The Minister of State leads a delegation to Afghanistan on 29 November 2022 to hold political dialogue with the Afghan Taliban government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement.

Moreover, Minister Hina Rabbani will discuss bilateral relations with the Afghan government to intensify cooperation in different sectors.

According to the statement, she will discuss cooperation in the areas of education, trade, investment, regional connectivity, and people-to-people exchange.

The Minister of State will also highlight the matters of regional security and reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment and support to provide grounds for strengthening peace and enhancing prosperity in Afghanistan, the statement noted.

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Hina Rabbani Khar will reiterate to Kabul that as a friend and neighbor, Islamabad will always endure solidarity with the people of Afghanistan.

Besides that, she will ensure Pakistan’s support and efforts to ease the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and to create real opportunities for the economic prosperity of the Afghan people.

Pakistan – Afghanistan relations

Afghanistan and Pakistan are close neighbors with strong bilateral relations and cooperation between both sides have expanded in recent years.

Both countries cooperate in areas of people-to-people contact, trade and transit ties, and energy projects to enhance economic integrity.

Pakistan works closely with Afghanistan to bring peace and harmony to Afghanistan. Moreover, Pakistan during the Afghan War and the War on Terror hosted millions of Afghan refugees in its territory.

Pakistan always pursued its policy of a “peaceful neighborhood” and attended all international forums and meetings anchored toward peace in Afghanistan including Moscow Format on Afghanistan, SCO Contact Group on Afghanistan, Kabul Process-I & II, etc.

Trade and Economic relations between both countries are substantial. Pakistan is Afghanistan’s highest trade partner and Islamabad’s development assistance to Kabul is undeniable.

Both countries jointly launched institutional mechanisms for economic cooperation like Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Trade Cooperation Authority, Joint Economic Commission, Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Business Council, & Afghan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace & Solidarity.