Key points
- A Pakistani delegation visits Kabul for detailed talks
- The JCC meets in Kabul after a 15-month pause
- A high-level Afghan delegation arrives in Islamabad for talks on trade and refugee issues
ISLAMABAD: Amid escalating tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and the ongoing repatriation of Afghan refugees without required legal documents, signs of a diplomatic thaw have emerged between the two neighbours.
Pakistan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Ishaq Dar while addressing a joint press conference at the Foreign Office here on Thursday said that preparatory meetings have been ongoing. “Hopefully, within days, I will be visiting Kabul for a day to break this logjam which has been there for the last few years,” Dar added.
Meanwhile, in a significant development, a high-level Pakistani delegation has arrived in Kabul, while a senior team from the Afghan Taliban government has simultaneously landed in Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq Khan, met with Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul under the framework of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC). The two sides held detailed discussions on the prevailing situation, including strained bilateral relations and the deportation of Afghan refugees.
Muttaqi expressed deep concern over the expulsions and called for constructive diplomacy. “Both countries should resolve their issues through dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual trust, and refrain from any actions or statements that could stir public anger and inflame emotions,” a statement issued by the Afghan government quotes Muttaqi as saying.
In a related development, writing on X, Mohammad Sadiq Khan noted: “After a 15-month pause, the 7th meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) convened in Kabul—a vital platform for addressing sensitive and strategic issues. Regular and sustained engagement through such mechanisms is essential to ease tensions, dispel doubts, and strengthen mutual understanding in bilateral ties.”
He further added that the Pakistani delegation “held a constructive and forward-looking meeting” with Muttaqi, where “a wide range of bilateral and regional issues were discussed, reflecting our commitment to stronger cooperation and mutual progress.”
Sadiq told the Afghan side that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will visit Kabul in the coming days—a trip expected to carry forward the diplomatic momentum.
A government source in Islamabad told WE News English that the Pakistani delegation will raise concerns over recent cross-border attacks originating from Afghan soil, as well as the presence of militant groups—particularly the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—operating from within Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, has arrived in Pakistan, leading a high-level delegation. The team includes representatives from various ministries and agencies—including Foreign Affairs, Finance, Refugee Affairs, Transport and Civil Aviation, and Agriculture, as well as private-sector stakeholders. The visit aims at addressing the challenges in bilateral trade, transit, and the status of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Both sides have agreed to institutionalise such exchanges to sustain engagement and seek durable solutions.
Analysts view this renewed engagement as a significant development, stressing that prolonged tensions in the region serve neither Pakistan nor Afghanistan. Dialogue and cooperation, they argue, are essential to ensuring regional stability and addressing the humanitarian and economic challenges faced by both countries.
Tahir Khan, an expert on regional affairs and Afghanistan, told WE News English that the initiation of talks is a positive development. “In a tense environment, when negotiations and exchanges of delegations are taking place, it indicates that both sides are willing to resolve issues through diplomatic channels and dialogue. However, the outcomes remain to be seen, as decisions are sometimes made but not implemented.”
Nonetheless, the start of this negotiation process is a highly encouraging sign. If the dialogue continues in this manner, many issues could potentially be resolved at the negotiating table,” he added.
