Pakistani Foreign Minister to visit Afghanistan on Saturday

In an indication of a thaw in the strained ties, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will pay a daylong visit to Afghanistan on Saturday, it was announced on Friday.

The announcement comes close on the heels of the latest round of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee meeting in Kabul that was held this week in the wake of rising tensions between the two countries on several issues, including the increased activities by armed groups within Pakistan since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Dar, who will lead a high-level delegation to Kabul, had been invited by the interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, according to a statement by the Foreign Office (FO). During the visit, Dar will call on the Afghan acting Prime Minister, Mullah Hassan Akhund, as well as meet acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and also hold delegation-level talks with Foreign Minister Muttaqi.

“The talks will cover the entire gamut of Pak-Afghan relationship, focusing on ways and means to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interests, including security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties,” FO said. It added that the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit is a reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to enhance sustained engagement with the brotherly country of Afghanistan.

Dar's visit comes amidst the ongoing drive to send back Afghan refugees despite requests by the Afghan authorities to relax the drive.
At the latest round of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee meeting in Kabul held on Wednesday after a 15-months gap, Pakistan’s delegation was led by Ambassador Sadiq Khan, the country’s special representative for Afghanistan, while the Afghan side was headed by Acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi.