Key Points
- FM Muttaqi welcomes Pakistan’s decision to up-grade its diplomatic relations with Afghanistan
- Afghanistan has decided to reciprocate the same: Muttaqi
- Both leaders agree to work closely for an early finalisation of framework agreement
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister (FM) Amir Khan Muttaqi Sunday underscored the importance of Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project for regional connectivity.
According to a statement issued by the Afghan foreign ministry, Deputy Prime Minister Dar and FM Muttaqi held a telephonic conversation.
FM Amir Khan Muttaqi welcomed the decision of Pakistan to up-grade its diplomatic relations to the ambassador level and informed that Afghanistan has decided to reciprocate the same.
Positive development
He termed it a very positive development in bilateral relations.
Both leaders agreed to work closely for an early finalisation of the framework agreement.
The leaders also reviewed the implementation of decisions taken during their recent visit to Kabul on 19 April 2025 and vowed to continue working together to establish mutual trust between the two brotherly nations, the statement read.
Upgrading diplomatic ties
Pakistan on Friday officially confirmed that it was upgrading diplomatic ties with Afghanistan and would soon exchange ambassadors with Kabul, in a significant shift in Islamabad’s policy towards Kabul.
The announcement of upgrading ties was first made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last week when he hosted foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan in Beijing.
“Pakistan-Afghanistan relations are on a positive trajectory after my very productive visit to Kabul with the Pakistan delegation on 19th April 2025,” Dar said in a statement.
“To maintain this momentum, I am pleased to announce the decision of the Government of Pakistan to upgrade the level of its Chargé d’Affaires in Kabul to the level of Ambassador,” he added.
“I am confident this step would further contribute towards enhanced engagement, deepen Pak-Afghan cooperation in economic, security, CT & trade areas and promote further exchanges between two fraternal countries,” he further said.
