Kandahar governor hopes for better Pak-Afghan relations

In a recent diplomatic development reported by Afghan state media, a notable figure within the Afghan Taliban has expressed optimism regarding improved relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan under the new Pakistani government.

The rendezvous took place in Kandahar, the spiritual heartland of the Afghan Taliban, where Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires (Cd’A) and head of mission in Kabul, Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamani, engaged in discussions with Kandahar Governor Mullah Muhammad Shirin Akhund on Monday.

Afghanistan’s Taliban strive to expand regional links

Amidst prevailing tensions between the two neighbouring nations, the Pakistani envoy’s visit to Kandahar to meet with Mullah Shirin, a confidant of the Taliban’s supreme leader, marks a significant diplomatic outreach.

According to reports from Afghanistan’s state news agency, Bakhtar, the Kandahar Governor extended felicitations to the Pakistani envoy on the occasion of Pakistan’s recent elections. Notably, this public discourse on Pakistani elections by a senior Taliban official is a departure from customary rhetoric.

Confirming the meeting, Ambassador Nizamani affirmed, “We concurred to bolster Pakistan-Afghanistan relations across various mutually beneficial domains and deliberated on matters of shared interest.”

Furthermore, the Pakistani Cd’A indicated plans to brief Pakistani officials on the discussions held in Kandahar, including engagements with the foreign minister and other authorities.

The discussions encompassed various pertinent subjects, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the dialogue between the two nations.

This diplomatic interaction can be perceived as a continuation of earlier discussions held in Pakistan in January, where Mullah Shirin engaged with Pakistani officials during a border coordination meeting. During his visit, Pakistan conveyed concerns regarding Kabul’s purported lack of action against militants associated with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Biden, Trump clinch nominations, kicking off presidential rematch

Despite subsequent TTP attacks, Pakistani authorities remained hopeful that dialogue could mitigate tensions surrounding the issue.

The recent meeting between the top Taliban leader and the Pakistani ambassador in Kabul follows closely after a meeting between a high-ranking Indian official and Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.