The US Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs, John Bass will embark on a diplomatic visit to Qatar and Pakistan from April 26 to April 30, the state department has announced.

The senior official will discuss the issue of Afghanistan with Qatari officials and focus on bilateral relations in his meetings with Pakistani officials, according to a statement issued by the state department.

The visit follows two key developments in the regions: The reports of a Taliban plan to close their Qatar negotiations office and Iranian president’s visit to Pakistan.

“In Doha, Qatar, he will meet with senior Qatari government officials and other diplomatic missions to discuss support for Afghanistan and shared security interests in the region,” read the statement.

“In Islamabad, Pakistan, Under Secretary Bass will meet with senior Pakistani government officials to discuss a range of regional and bilateral issues as part of the U.S.-Pakistani partnership,” it added.

Shaukat Piracha of Aaj News says Bass and Pakistani officials will also discuss economic cooperation between the two countries.

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John Bass served as US ambassador to Afghanistan under Donald Trump’s administration between December 2017 and January 2020.