Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi’s visit to Pakistan postponed

ISLAMABAD: The much-anticipated visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi to Pakistan has been postponed over “technical issues”, Pakistani sources said late Sunday, without explaining these reasons.

Muttaqi was scheduled to pay a three-day official visit to Islamabad from Aug 4, according to Pakistani and Afghan sources.

No side had officially announced the visit.

“We are working on new dates,” sources told Hum News English.

Afghan sources also confirmed the delay in the long-awaited visit but offered no further comments.

Muttaqi last visited Pakistan in May 2023.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who holds the portfolio of foreign minister, had invited his counterpart during his visit in April this year.

‘TRAVEL WAIVER’

Hum News English has learnt from a Western source in Islamabad that the visit was postponed over “something related to his (Muttaqi) travel waiver”.  

Many Afghan Taliban leaders, including ministers and senior officials, are still under the UN sanctions list and a special permission is required for their visits.

Read more: Terrorist outfits producing instability, joint action needed: Pakistan

The UN usually does not apply restrictions on the visit of the Afghan Foreign Minister, according to a diplomat.

Muttaqi paid several foreign visits this year and his most recent was a trip to China in May and Turkiye in June.

In Beijing, he also attended a trilateral meeting with China and Pakistan. In Turkiye, he participated in the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Former diplomats are of the view that Pakistan may have not approached the UN for permission on time.

“They (Pakistan) should have intimated the relevant UN agency in a timely manner,” a former diplomat told Hum News English on Sunday.

Afghan officials in Kabul insist there was no problem on their part, with the delegation ready to travel to Islamabad.

Several Afghan delegations visited Pakistan in recent weeks.

Pakistan and Afghanistan signed the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) on July 23.

From the Afghan side, the agreement was signed by Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Mullah Ahmadullah Zahid.

EXEMPTIONS

The UN Security Council has approved several travel ban exemptions this year, according to the UN Website. Following are some exemptions.

18 June 2025: The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) approved a travel ban exemption for Muttaqi, regarding his visit to Istanbul, Turkiye, from 19 to 24 June 2025. The purpose of the visit is to attend the 51st Foreign Minister’s Council Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

16 May 2025: The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) approved a travel ban exemption for Muttaqi regarding his visit to Beijing and Chengdu, the People’s Republic of China, from 19 to 26 May 2025. The purpose of the visit is to attend the 20th Western China International Fair.

25 April 2025: The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) approved a travel ban exemption for Muttaqi regarding his visit to Doha, State of Qatar, from 27 April 2025 to 4 May 2025, for meetings with government officials.

21 March 2025: The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) approved a travel ban exemption for Amir Khan Muttaqi regarding his visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 23 March to 10 April 2025 to perform Umrah.

07 March 2025: The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) approved a travel ban exemption for Muttaqi regarding his visit to Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, from 9 to 14 March 2025. The purpose of the visit is to take part in bilateral meetings with senior government officials of the Sultanate of Oman.

26 December 2024: The Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) approved a travel ban exemption for Muttaqi regarding his visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 28 December 2024 to 7 January 2025. The purpose of the visit is to take part in meetings regarding regional security, stability and reconciliation.