Afghanistan welcomes upgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan
Afghanistan and Pakistan have decided to upgrade their diplomatic relations, signaling a potential thaw in strained ties. The move comes as the Taliban's foreign minister prepares to visit Pakistan. This development follows a trilateral meeting in Beijing, where China expressed its willingness to assist in improving relations between the two neighboring countries, paving the way for enhanced cooperation.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Afghanistan has welcomed the decision to upgrade diplomatic relations with Pakistan , where the Taliban government 's foreign minister is due to travel in the coming days, his office said on Saturday.The move signals easing tensions between the neighbouring countries, as relations between the Taliban authorities and Pakistan -- already rocky -- have cooled in recent months, fuelled by security concerns and a campaign by Islamabad to expel tens of thousands of Afghans.Pakistan's top diplomat on Friday said the charge d'affaires stationed in Kabul would be elevated to the rank of ambassador, with Kabul later announcing its representative in Islamabad would also be upgraded."This elevation in diplomatic representation between Afghanistan & Pakistan paves the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation in multiple domains," the Afghan foreign ministry said on X.Kabul's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is due to visit Pakistan "in the coming days", ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP.Muttaqi met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in May in Beijing as part of a trilateral meeting with their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.Wang afterwards announced Kabul and Islamabad's intention to exchange ambassadors and expressed Beijing's willingness "to continue to assist with improving Afghanistan-Pakistan ties".Dar hailed the "positive trajectory" of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations on Friday, saying the upgrading of their representatives would "promote further exchanges between two fraternal countries".Only a handful of countries -- including China -- have agreed to host Taliban government ambassadors since their return to power in 2021, with no country yet formally recognising the administration.Russia last month said it would also accredit a Taliban government ambassador, days after removing the group's "terrorist" designation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
24 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Shehbaz Sharif seeks Donald Trump's mediation as India's delegation corners Pakistan in US
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on US President Donald Trump to facilitate dialogue with India as New Delhi continues to ramp up its efforts to expose Islamabad's role in cross-border terrorism that necessitated Operation Sindoor. Addressing an event at the US embassy in Islamabad, Shehbaz Sharif praised Donald Trump for his role in helping de-escalate the situation with India, a claim New Delhi has publicly denied. He also urged Washington to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue between the two nuclear neighbours, news agency ANI reported. The Pakistan PM was repeating the plea made by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who had claimed that Trump "deserves credit" for helping facilitate the cessation of hostilities between the two nations. "On 10 different occasions, he has taken credit for facilitating the ceasefire between India and Pakistan – and rightly so. He deserves that credit because it was his efforts that helped make the ceasefire possible. So, if the US is willing to help Pakistan in maintaining this ceasefire, it is reasonable to expect that an American role in arranging a comprehensive dialogue would also be beneficial for us," Bhutto had said. India has consistently rejected third-party mediation on bilateral issues with Pakistan, including the Kashmir issue. The Indian delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Operation Sindoor visiting the US – one of seven such teams sent by the GOI – has said that Washington has understood India's position that there can be no talks with a gun pointed at the head. "I think the US has understood for some time now that India has a very clear position that there will be no talks with a gun pointed at our head... The problem is that we will not deal with people who are pointing a gun at our heads. I mean frankly, if your neighbour unleashes his Rottweilers to bite your children and in fact to do worse to your children, and then says, let's talk. You think he's going to talk until he either unleashes those Rottweilers or locks them up in a kennel, or puts them to sleep. It's as simple as that. You're not going to talk to people who are pointing guns at your temples. It's not going to happen," said Shashi Tharoor, who is leading the all-party delegation to the United States. Tharoor also slammed the Pakistani side for making claims that it was as much a victim of terrorism as India was. "This (Pakistan) delegation is going around saying we are also victims of terrorism, we have lost more lives to terrorism than India has. We turn around and say- Whose fault is that? As Hillary Clinton famously said 10 years ago. You can't breed vipers in your backyard and expect them to bite only your why they (Pakistan) are now getting terrorists attacked by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, but who created the Taliban from which the Tehrik-i-Taliban broke off? We all know the answer to that, so let Pakistan look inside it and let it do some serious interior reflection before it goes around pleading innocence and deniability and everything else," the Congress MP added Echoing that sentiment, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who is also a member of the delegation, said that Pakistan speaking of peace was like the devil quoting the scriptures. "Bhutto has been calling his delegation a peace delegation, and it is quite ironic that the Pakistani delegation is speaking the language of peace. It's like the Devil quoting from the scriptures. For a country that is trying to create fake heroes by promoting failed generals to field marshal, they don't know what true leaders look like. Pakistan has been surviving on cheap Chinese imports, including military hardware, which spectacularly failed on the battlefield.. So perhaps it is hard for them to digest high-quality, high-calibre military hardware as well as strong democratic leadership on the other side of the border," he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Donald Trump's travel ban: What's the difference between a ban and restrictions?
In a move that has left the world in utter shock, US President Donald Trump has signed a ban on travel to the US from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Iran, in a bid to "protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors. " Starting on Monday, 9 June, citizens from 12 countries are set to be banned from travelling to the US: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. In a video message, Trump cited the recent attack in Colorado as an example of foreign nationals entering the US without being "properly vetted". Although the alleged attacker was an Egyptian national, quite notably, Egypt has been left out of the ban. Another seven countries have come under a partial ban: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. For the unversed, the proclamation echoes an order from Trump's first term in 2017, when he announced a ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, and simultaneously fulfils a promise Trump made during his 2024 election campaign. However, there are some exemptions, including athletes travelling for major sporting events, some Afghan nationals, dual nationals with citizenship in unaffected countries, and immigrants who are "ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo But how exactly is a 'travel ban' different from 'travel restrictions'? What is a travel ban? A travel ban is an official prohibition on the entry of individuals from specific countries or regions into a nation. In the case of Trump's 2025 policy, the US government announced a full ban on nationals from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and Somalia. This means that citizens from these nations are categorically denied entry into the United States, regardless of the purpose of their visit or their individual circumstances. The rationale behind such a ban typically centers on national security concerns, such as high visa overstay rates, inadequate vetting processes, or the potential for individuals from these countries to pose security threats. The administration cited these reasons when implementing the 2025 ban, emphasizing the need to protect US interests and prevent potential risks associated with travelers from these nations. What are travel restrictions? In contrast, travel restrictions are more nuanced and often involve limitations on specific types of travel or certain categories of travelers, rather than an outright ban. For instance, while a country may not impose a complete ban on nationals from another nation, it might restrict certain visa categories or impose additional vetting requirements. Under Trump's 2025 policy, nationals from seven countries—such as Cuba, Laos, and Venezuela—are subject to partial restrictions. These restrictions may include limitations on specific visa types, increased scrutiny during the application process, or additional documentation requirements. Unlike a full ban, these measures allow for the possibility of entry under certain conditions, provided the traveler meets the specified criteria. See More: Travel ban: 12 nations fully banned, 7 partially blocked; internet erupts over Donald Trump's travel crackdown Key differences between a ban and restrictions: While a travel ban is a complete prohibition of entry, travel restrictions deal with limited limitations on specific categories. A travel ban is implemented based on the rationale of national security concerns, whereas travel restrictions are due to specific risks or policy objectives. In the case of Trump's directive, while 12 countries have been 'banned' from traveling to the US, 7 countries have received travel restrictions regarding US travel. Is this ban going to affect the US? The implementation of travel bans and restrictions carries significant policy implications. Bans can strain diplomatic relations, particularly with countries whose nationals are affected. They may also impact international collaborations, trade, and tourism. As debates continue over the effectiveness and fairness of such policies, it remains essential to consider their legal, diplomatic, and humanitarian implications. 'Don't Want Troublemakers': Trump Wants Foreign Student Cap at Harvard; Indian Aspirants Furious One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
China urges EU to stop ‘provoking trouble' in South China Sea dispute
The Chinese embassy in the Philippines advised Manila on Thursday not to 'fantasise' about relying on outside forces to resolve the South China Sea dispute, and urged the European Union to stop 'provoking trouble'. An embassy spokesperson made the comments after EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas visited the Philippine capital and voiced concern over China's activities in the busy waterway, where its claims overlap those of some Southeast Asian nations. 'The EU is not a party to the South China Sea disputes and has no right to interfere in the South China Sea differences between China and the Philippines,' the spokesperson said in a statement on the embassy website. The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
