ISLAMABAD: Pakistan promised to continue its engagement with Afghanistan on Wednesday while asking a visiting delegation from the neighboring state to address outstanding “issues of concern” for enhanced regional trade and connectivity to ensure greater prosperity for the people.
Pakistan accused Afghanistan’s interim Taliban administration of not doing enough to address its security concerns last year in November following a number of deadly suicide attacks that killed a large number of civilians and security personnel which officials in Islamabad blamed on armed factions using the Afghan soil.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar did a hard-hitting news conference before leaving for Uzbekistan to attend the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization Summit in which he blamed the Taliban administration in Kabul for “facilitating” such attacks.
The relations between the two countries have remained tense in recent months, with Pakistan deporting unregistered Afghan migrants to their homeland while citing security reasons.
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s interim foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani received an Afghan delegation led by Kandahar’s governor Haji Mullah Shirin in Islamabad and exchanged views on issues ranging from peace and security to people-to-people contacts.
In this handout photo, taken and released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan’s interim foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani (left) welcomes the Afghan delegation led by Kandahar’s governor Haji Mullah Shirin (right) in Islamabad on January 3, 2024. (Photo courtesy: MOFA)
“Foreign Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continued engagement and mutually beneficial ties with Afghanistan,” said an official handout circulated by the foreign office after the meeting. “He also underscored the importance of addressing all issues of concern to harness the full potential for regional trade and connectivity.”
Pakistan aims to connect Central Asia to global sea lanes through its port city of Gwadar, and Afghanistan is a vital component of this project due to its geographical position.
The success of Pakistan’s connectivity project largely hinges on security, stability and infrastructure development in Afghanistan.
The Afghan delegation, which includes the deputy head of military intelligence and strategy in Kabul, also participated in the 6th session of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee.
In meeting periodically takes place to help the two countries discuss coordination mechanisms related to cross-border movement with a view to promoting people-to-people contacts between them.
