ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan and Afghanistan continued their renewed engagement on Monday, with Af­­g­­­han Chargé d’affaires Sar­­dar Ahmad Shakeeb me­­eting Deputy Prime Mi­­nister and Foreign Mi­­nister Ishaq Dar to discuss bilateral ties.

The Foreign Office (FO) issued a statement on the meeting noting that the two discussed the “deep-rooted ties” between the nations and agreed on the need to “strengthen mutually beneficial relations”.

This marks the second senior-level interaction in recent weeks, following a meeting between Pakis­tan’s Chargé d’affair­­es in Kabul, Obaid Nizamani, and Taliban Defence Minister Mullah Yaqoob.

The two sides look to be trying to mend ties that had been frayed by the use of Afghanistan soil by terrorists to carry out attacks on Pakistan.

FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Ba­­loch at a media briefing last week said counterterrorism was the focus of Afghan talks. Reports suggest the Taliban may be relocating TTP fighters from border areas to Ghazni.

Special Representative for Afghanistan Amb Mohammad Sadiq was also present in the meeting, while Sadiq and Shakeeb met separately as well.

Later, the Afghan embassy in Pakistan said Shakeeb discussed issues pertaining to trade, problems faced by businessmen, regional connectivity, Afghan refugees and students during his meetings at the FO.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2024