By Unknown author
On Saturday, Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, met with Acting Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund in Kabul to address significant issues of shared concern as the two neighboring countries work to mend their strained relations.
Dar’s visit, which lasted the entire day, coincides with Pakistan’s intensified efforts to address the issue of illegal Afghan refugees, emphasizing that Afghans can only remain in the country if they have entered legally with a visa.
During the meeting, both parties exchanged perspectives on critical matters such as security, trade, and transit cooperation, and discussed ways to improve interpersonal connections, as stated in a press release from the Foreign Office Spokesperson.
Reiterating their commitment to ongoing dialogue, both sides agreed to sustain high-level exchanges to further enhance the relationship between the two allied nations, according to the state-run news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
Dar’s visit, which had been in the works for several months, faced multiple delays due to escalating tensions linked to Pakistan’s security issues. The relationship between Islamabad and Kabul has been on a downward trajectory since August 2021.
Additionally, Dar engaged in delegation-level discussions with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who had extended the invitation for the visit, leading to extensive talks on a wide array of topics related to their bilateral relations. These discussions highlighted the necessity of developing strategies to bolster cooperation in various areas of mutual interest, including security, trade, transit, connectivity, and interpersonal relations.
The Deputy Prime Minister underscored the critical need to tackle all relevant matters, especially those concerning security and border management, to fully unlock the opportunities for regional trade and connectivity, as stated by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a post on X.
Both sides reiterated their dedication to nurturing mutually advantageous relations and acknowledged the significance of sustaining high-level interactions, the statement noted.
The Foreign Office also indicated that Dar is scheduled to meet with Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
