ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has confirmed that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will travel to Kabul soon although dates for the visit have yet to be announced.
“During our National Security Adviser (NSA’s) recent visit to Kabul, (Afghan) President Ashraf Ghani invited Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to Afghanistan at a convenient time, an offer that he has accepted,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Faisal said in a weekly news briefing on Thursday.
Pakistan’s NSA Nasser Khan Janjua visited Kabul on March 17 where he met President Ghani and other Afghan officials to discuss security issues.
During the visit, President Ghani invited the Pakistani Prime Minister to visit Kabul as part of a move to reset deteriorating ties and start state-to-state talks.
Faisal added at the press briefing that Premier Abbasi’s acceptance of the offer was a welcome development. “It is part of our continuous dialogue and engagement with Afghanistan and the international community for a lasting solution to the Afghan problem. It is true that peace in Afghanistan is inextricably linked to Pakistan’s peace and stability,” he said.
He added that Pakistan has always supported an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process in Afghanistan.
“Islamabad has reiterated that only through political reconciliation, wherein all warring factions begin a meaningful and result-oriented dialogue with the Afghan Government, can lasting peace be achieved in Afghanistan. We have supported the Afghanistan-related initiatives in this context.
“Pakistan has been urging (the) Taliban through its public statements, as well as, private messaging, to join the peace process. This, we feel, is a shared responsibility. Pakistan should not be singled out in this regard,” Faisal added.
Pakistan once again raised the concerns about the rising footprint of Daesh in Afghanistan.
“Daesh has been involved in cross-border raids at Pakistani military posts. We have, on many occasions, shared evidence of their involvement in cross-border raids and location of their safe heavens on Afghan territory with Afghanistan ... and urged them to take effective action to root out Daesh sanctuaries on Afghan territory,” Faisal added.
Welcome development for peace hailed as Pakistan premier accepts Kabul’s invitation
Welcome development for peace hailed as Pakistan premier accepts Kabul’s invitation
Pakistan forms committee to negotiate financial advisory services for Islamabad airport privatization
- Committee to engage Asian Development Bank to negotiate terms of financial advisory services agreement, says privatization ministry
- Inaugurated in 2018, Islamabad airport has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities and operational inefficiencies
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Privatization Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has formed a committee to engage the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to negotiate a potential financial advisory services agreement for the privatization of Islamabad International Airport.
The Islamabad International Airport, inaugurated in 2018 at a cost of over $1 billion, has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities, and operational inefficiencies.
The Negotiation Committee formed by the Privatization Commission will engage with the ADB to negotiate the terms of a potential Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA) for the airport’s privatization, the ministry said.
“The Negotiation Committee has been mandated to undertake negotiations and submit its recommendations to the Board for consideration and approval, in line with the applicable regulatory framework,” the Privatization Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said Islamabad airport operations will be outsourced under a concession model through an open and competitive process to enhance its operational efficiency and improve service delivery standards.
Pakistan has recently sought to privatize or outsource management of several state-run enterprises under conditions agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a $7 billion bailout approved in September last year.
Islamabad hopes outsourcing airport operations will bring operational expertise, enhance passenger experience and restore confidence in the aviation sector.
In December 2025, Pakistan’s government successfully privatized its national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), selling 75 percent of its stakes to a consortium led by the Arif Habib Group.
The group secured a 75 percent stake in the PIA for Rs135 billion ($482 million) after several rounds of bidding, valuing the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said this week the government has handed over 26 state-owned enterprises to the Privatization Commission.
