After Border Tensions with India, Pakistan Seeks to Improve Relations with Afghanistan – Welcomed by the Taliban Government
Afghanistan has welcomed Pakistan’s initiative to upgrade diplomatic relations, signaling a potential easing of tensions between the two South Asian neighbors.
On Friday, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the current chargé d'affaires in the Afghan capital Kabul would be elevated to the rank of ambassador. Shortly after, the Taliban government also declared that their envoy in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, would likewise be promoted to ambassador. Notably, in the absence of an ambassador, a chargé d'affaires acts as the head diplomat at an embassy.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “This diplomatic upgrade between Afghanistan and Pakistan will pave the way for bilateral cooperation in many areas.” Ministry spokesperson Zia Ahmad Takal added that Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi would visit Pakistan “in the coming days.”
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, only a handful of countries — including China — have accepted their appointed ambassadors, although no nation has formally recognized the Taliban government. After China, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan, Pakistan becomes the fourth country to decide on appointing an ambassador to Kabul. Last month, Russia also indicated that it would accept the Taliban-appointed ambassador and removed the group from its list of terrorist organizations just days earlier.
Relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan have been tense in recent months due to security concerns and Pakistan’s campaign to repatriate thousands of Afghan refugees.
Pakistan has accused armed groups of launching attacks inside its territory from Afghan soil. However, Kabul has denied these claims, stating that such violence is Pakistan’s internal issue.
Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Dar noted on Friday that bilateral relations have improved since his recent visit to Kabul. Last week, he participated in a trilateral meeting in Beijing with Afghan counterpart Muttaqi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Following the meeting, China stated that it would “continue to support the improvement of relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
