Islamabad: The Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will raise concerns about the threat of terrorism for Pakistan of the groups present in Afghanistan during his next one -day visit to Kabul, said Friday the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shafqat Ali Khan.
“You are aware of our concerns, which have been articulated very clearly. The key concern is still centered on security,” Khan said in the weekly media session while answering questions about the trip.
It will take a visit of one day to Kabul on Saturday, based on a recently revived participation process after months of pauses in ties due to Islamabad’s terrorism concerns. The visit has increased the hopes of a thaw in bilateral relations.
The Foreign Minister will hold conversations at the level of delegation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Afghan, Amir Khan Muttaqi. It will also resort to Afghan interim prime minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund and will meet with the Vice Prime Minister of Economic Affairs Afghan Afghan Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
The FO spokesman did not reveal the composition of Mr. Dar’s delegation. However, diplomats, commercial officials and senior military and intelligent officers are expected to accompany him.
“The conversations will cover the entire agenda of the Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship, focusing on ways and means to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including security, trade, connectivity and ties of people to people,” Khan said.
The visit follows the last meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee of Pakistan-Fanganistan (JCC) held in Kabul earlier this week.
The Pakistani side was directed by Ambassador Sadiq Khan, special representative of Afghanistan, while the Afghan delegation was directed by Mr. Muttaqi. The Pakistan delegation also included the Director General of Military Operations Gen Kashif Abdullah.
The trip to give had been under consideration for several months, but was repeatedly delayed due to the main tensions between the two countries.
The FO spokesman described the visit of Mr. Giving as “a reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to improve sustained commitment to the fraternal country of Afghanistan”, and said that Islamabad aims to build “good, friendly and neighbors.”
Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement earlier this week confirming that Muttaqi had had at his meeting with Ambassador SADIQ expressed “deep concerns” about recent developments, particularly the expulsion of Pakistan of Afghan citizens, and emphasized problems resolving through “dialogue based on trust.”
The FO spokesman said he was not aware of the agreements that was expected to sign during Kabul’s visit, but characterized the trip as “important and significant”, reiterating that he was “in line with the priority we have given to this relationship.”
Posted in Dawn, April 19, 2025