Ambassador Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi in Kabul on Tuesday to deliberate on the potential for bilateral cooperation to be improved.
Islamabad had repeatedly urged Kabul to take action against the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which it alleges uses Afghan soil to initiate attacks in Pakistan, and the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan had been strained as a result of frequent border skirmishes. The allegations are denied by Kabul.
Nevertheless, the two nations have recently been involved in diplomatic exchanges, with the most recent meeting occurring on December 9 between Afghan chargé d’affaires Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
That encounter occurred shortly after a meeting between Taliban Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob and Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul, Obaid Nizamani.
Today, I had the opportunity to meet with Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Discussions of an extensive nature were conducted. “Agreed to collaborate in order to enhance bilateral cooperation and promote peace and progress in the region,” stated Ambassador Sadiq in a post on X.
A screenshot of the post from X
Sadiq had also met with the Afghan Acting Minister of Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani, in Kabul the day before, according to a separate post on X.
The post stated that both parties had reached an agreement to fortify bilateral cooperation in a variety of sectors in order to further strengthen the fraternal relations between the two countries.
Pakistan reappointed Ambassador Sadiq as its special representative to Afghanistan earlier this month. Dawn reported that the appointment was verified by a source who was aware of the development, despite the absence of an official announcement.
The appointment occurred in the context of allegations that the Afghan Taliban had initiated the process of relocating members of the TTP and their families from the border to Ghazni, their new residence, in order to alleviate tensions with Pakistan.
On December 13, the Foreign Office stated that Pakistan’s recent interactions with Afghanistan have emphasised the country’s aspiration to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue.
According to Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the recent meetings were “an expression of Pakistan’s interest in dialogue to resolve any issues that arise from time to time and to find constructive approach and solutions to issues, including issues that are of serious concern to Pakistan,” during a weekly media briefing.
The back-to-back meetings had created the impression that the two parties were preparing for a resumption of engagement following a period of tension that was precipitated by Pakistani allegations that the TTP was granted sanctuaries on Afghan soil.
Counterterrorism was the primary concern on the bilateral agenda, as Baloch had previously stated earlier in the month.
