Progress in Diplomatic Ties Between Pakistan and Afghanistan

The Afghan government has announced the appointment of its ambassador to Pakistan, a move that coincides with Pakistan’s elevation of its chargé d’affaires in Kabul to ambassadorial status. Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is also slated to visit Islamabad soon, suggesting a potential improvement in bilateral relations between the two neighboring nations. The Afghan Foreign Ministry welcomed Pakistan’s recent decision to grant ambassador status to Obaidur Rehman Nizamani, who previously served as Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul. This marks the first occasion Pakistan has formally appointed an ambassador to Afghanistan since the Taliban assumed control of Kabul in August 2021. In response, Afghanistan has confirmed the appointment of its ambassador to Islamabad, as part of reciprocal efforts to strengthen diplomatic connections. While the identity of the newly appointed Afghan ambassador has not been officially revealed, diplomatic sources have indicated that Maulvi Sardar Ahmad Shakib, currently the Taliban’s senior representative in Pakistan, could be promoted to the ambassadorial rank. This announcement follows a significant trilateral meeting involving the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China held in Beijing earlier this week, aimed at fostering enhanced regional cooperation. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced Pakistan’s decision on the social media platform X, stating: “I am pleased to announce that the Government of Pakistan has decided to elevate the post of its Charge d’Affaires in Kabul to the rank of ambassador.” Meanwhile, the Afghan news agency Tolo News reported that Amir Khan Muttaqi will visit Islamabad following an official invitation from Pakistan. The three-day visit will address a range of bilateral issues and is viewed as a step towards promoting high-level diplomatic engagement. Political analysts consider these developments crucial for improving Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, which have been strained over the past four years due to border skirmishes, refugee repatriations, and security concerns. Syed Abdullah Sadiq, a political analyst, commented that while Afghanistan has yet to receive formal recognition from any country, “as neighbors and Muslim countries, issues can be resolved through political dialogue based on historical relations.” Another analyst, Khalil Nadeem, emphasized Pakistan’s strategic imperative to engage with Afghanistan. He stated, “Afghanistan maintains strong ties with India, the former Soviet states, and Arab countries. Pakistan needs to build good relations with Kabul to secure its own regional interests.”