Diplomatic push: Pakistan to address terrorism and strengthen relations with Afghanistan

Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to give diplomacy and dialogue another chance to resolve key issues, including the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, by engaging with the interim Taliban government. This decision was made in a meeting led by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday.

Pakistan's Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, briefed officials about his recent visit to Kabul, where he met with Afghan authorities and discussed ways to improve cooperation between the two countries. The official statement issued by the Foreign Office mentioned that Ambassador Sadiq’s visit focused on strengthening bilateral ties.

Foreign Minister Dar stressed the importance of continued dialogue with the Afghan government to address Pakistan's concerns and promote better relations between the two countries. The decision to pursue further talks comes after Ambassador Sadiq shared his recommendations on how to approach the relationship with Afghanistan, offering a positive view of his trip to Kabul.

The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been tense in recent months, mainly due to the presence of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan. Pakistan has linked the rise in terrorist attacks in its Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces to these terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan.

Despite the ongoing security concerns, the Foreign Office’s statement on Ambassador Sadiq’s visit avoided directly mentioning the TTP or cross-border terrorist attacks, opting instead for a more diplomatic tone. During his visit, Ambassador Sadiq met with Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, on March 22. They discussed various issues of mutual concern, including peace, security, trade, economic cooperation, and people-to-people contacts.

The statement also highlighted Pakistan's commitment to maintaining engagement with Afghanistan and strengthening their bilateral ties. Both sides agreed to address their concerns, particularly security issues, in order to build a stronger relationship. The two governments also agreed to enhance high-level meetings and dialogue to further boost cooperation.

In addition to his meeting with the Afghan Foreign Minister, Ambassador Sadiq also met with Afghanistan’s Acting Commerce Minister, Nooruddin Azizi. They discussed improving trade relations and cooperation in transit and connectivity. The special representative emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to expanding trade and economic cooperation with Afghanistan for mutual benefit.

After returning to Pakistan, Ambassador Sadiq briefed Foreign Minister Dar about his meetings with Afghan officials. Minister Dar expressed satisfaction with the discussions and directed that efforts be made to further strengthen bilateral ties, including improving trade and transit cooperation between the two countries.