Dar to lead high-level delegation to Kabul tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: on the invitation of the interim Afghan foreign minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will lead a high-level delegation to Kabul on Saturday.

According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, during the day-long visit, he will call on the Afghan Acting Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund; Afghan Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and hold delegation-level talks with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

The talks will cover entire gamut of Pak-Afghan relationship, focusing on ways and means to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interests, including security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties.

Dar’s visit is a reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to enhance sustained engagement with the brotherly country of Afghanistan.

Pakistan was one of just three countries that recognised the Taliban’s first government in the 1990s and was accused of covertly supporting their insurgency against NATO forces.

But their relationship has soured as violence in Pakistan’s border regions has soared since the Taliban regained power in Kabul in 2021.

Last year was the deadliest year in Pakistan for a decade, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of allowing militants to take shelter in Afghanistan from where they plan attacks.

The Taliban government denies the charge.

On Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration said Pakistan has expelled nearly 60,000 Afghans since the start of April.

The UN says nearly three million Afghans live in Pakistan, many who have been there for decades or were born there, after fleeing successive conflicts.

The Pakistan government has cancelled the residence permits of more than 800,000 Afghans and warned those who are in Pakistan awaiting relocation to other countries that they must leave by the end of April.

More than 1.3 million who hold Proof of Registration cards issued by the UN refugee agency have been told to leave the capital and the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi.

Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, this month said the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) militant group was the top issue straining ties.

“TTP is a big challenge that can’t be tolerated. Afghanistan has to work with us on this. If they are not working on this, then all deals are off,” said Sadiq, who is currently visiting Afghanistan.

The TTP is a separate but closely linked group to the Afghan Taliban that carries out frequent attacks on Pakistani security officials.