ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will visit Islamabad to review strengthening bilateral ties, border security, trade, and cooperation with Pakistani officials.
“We have extended him an invitation. The dates are being worked out and hopefully, will be finalised soon,” a Pakistani official told WE News English on condition of anonymity.
The upcoming visit will focus on strengthening bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries. Key topics on the agenda include border security, the threat from insurgent groups, and opportunities to expand economic cooperation.
The visit comes in the wake of recent Taliban actions targeting members of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghan territory. Islamabad sees these moves as a constructive development and hopes they mark the beginning of a new chapter in engagement and collaboration with the Taliban government.
Pakistan has already announced to upgrade its diplomatic ties with Afghanistan to the ambassador level.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has immediately notified Islamabad’s Chargé d’Affaires, Ubaid Ur Rehman Nizamani, to the rank of full ambassador.
A week ago, Amir Khan Muttaqi held a meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, in Beijing. According to a statement from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, both sides agreed to collaborate on advancing shared interests, including trade, transit, communications, and security.
Ishaq Dar visits Kabul
Last month, Minister Ishaq Dar paid a day-long visit to Kabul to address Islamabad’s concerns over cross-border militancy and followed the latest round of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee meeting held in Kabul.
“Both countries will strictly deal with such elements. If someone does [carry out such activities], then we both will be responsible for taking action against them,” he said after meeting several senior Afghan officials.
Ishaq Dar later told a press conference that Pakistan’s security concerns had been conveyed to the Afghan side, adding that Pakistan’s concerns on security issues were heard by the Afghan side and they assured their full cooperation.
