ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation from Pakistan would visit Afghanistan on Tuesday in order to boost bilateral relations and extend full support to the Afghan people, sources said on Saturday.
The delegation would be led by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar. It is expected that it would meet Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi and interim Prime Minister Mullah Hasan Akhund.
Pakistan has been vocal about the peace in Afghanistan, demanding of the international community not abandon its neighbouring country after the takeover of the Taliban while ensuring the basic rights of the people and international commitments. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government has linked stability in Afghanistan with regional stability.
Moreover, Pakistan alongside Iran has been hosting 90 per cent of registered Afghan refugees globally – some 2.4 million people. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, during a refugee summit in Islamabad in 2020, said that the world must “step up” and match Pakistan’s compassion for refugees.
But, the border situation has been a little tense over the past week as Pakistan closed the Chaman border on November 13 after a shooter from the Afghan side opened fire at the security personnel on the Pakistan side of the Friendship Gate, resulting in one casualty. It was opened after eight days after authorities from both sides held negotiations and the Chaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry shared their concerns with the district administration.
The visit of the delegation comes against the backdrop of a series of meetings between Pakistan and special representatives of other countries for Afghanistan.
Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met with Muttaqi in Tashkent on the sidelines of the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting.
During the meeting, the foreign minister reiterated support for the Afghan people following the destruction caused by the earthquake in Afghanistan. He added that Pakistan remained firmly committed to a “peaceful, stable, prosperous and connected” Afghanistan.
Bilawal emphasised that there was the prospect of ending the four-decade-long conflict and establishing sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.
Muttaqi thanked the FM for hosting Afghan refugees for the last four decades, adding that Pakistan may consider expanding its trade with Central Asian Republics through Afghanistan, which would further promote regional peace and security.
In September, US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West during a visit to Pakistan met with FM Bilawal and state minister Hina Rabbani Khar.
The two sides acknowledged the need for continued cooperation on the shared objectives of sustained efforts and engagement of the international community to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people and promote regional peace.
