Islamabad:
Pakistan and Afghanistan intensified their contacts as a new push to reset their long troubled ties are making significant progress, officials said here as the foreign ministers from the two countries spoke on Sunday via phone.
The latest telephone conversation between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghan temporary Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi came days after Pakistan agreed to upgrade diplomatic ties with Kabul.
The temporary Afghan government welcomed Pakistan’s steps to appoint a full -time ambassador to Kabul and became the fourth country to do so.
China took the lead last year when it sent a full -time ambassador to Kabul and accepted a Taliban broadcast in Beijing.
China has been instrumental in persuading Pakistan and Afghanistan to exchange ambassadors. The breakthrough came after the temporary Taliban government took a number of steps to tackle Pakistan’s concerns about cross -border terrorist attacks.
Pakistani officials confirmed to the Express Pakinomist that Kabul for the first time moved against elements, especially the Afghan citizens who either joined the forbidden Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or thought to be part of the group. Results of such Afghans were arrested as well as those who lightened young people to participate in TTP’s ranks.
These steps urged Pakistan to increase the interaction with the Afghan Taliban government. The decision was also significant when India tried to exploit the strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan in its favor.
A statement issued here by the Foreign Office said Foreign Minister Muttaqi welcomed Pakistan’s decision to upgrade his diplomatic relations to the embassy level and stated that Afghanistan decided to retaliate the same.
He called it a very positive development in bilateral connections.
Both leaders also reviewed the implementation of decisions made during DPM/FM’s visit to Kabul on April 19, 2025 and promised to continue working together to establish mutual trust between the two fraternal nations.
Emphasizes the importance of Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway line project for regional connection, both leaders agreed to work close to an early completion of the framework agreement, according to the declaration.
The Afghan Foreign Minister is expected to visit Islamabad soon. This will be Muttaqi’s first visit to Pakistan in two years.
Pakistan and Afghanistan tape have been strained since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
