Latest news with #Muttaqi
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Islamabad, Kabul bonhomie surges
Pakistan and Afghanistan stepped up their contacts as a new push to reset their long troubled ties is making significant strides, officials said here as the foreign ministers from the two countries spoke on Sunday by phone. The latest telephonic conversation between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi came days after Pakistan agreed to upgrade diplomatic ties with Kabul. The Interim Afghan government welcomed Pakistan's move to appoint a full time Ambassador in Kabul, becoming the fourth country to do so. China took the lead last year when it sent a full time ambassador to Kabul and accepted a Taliban Envoy in Beijing. China has been instrumental in persuading Pakistan and Afghanistan to exchange ambassadors. The breakthrough came after the interim Taliban government took a series of steps to address Pakistan's concerns over the cross border terrorist attacks. Pakistani officials confirmed to The Express Tribune that Kabul for the first time moved against elements particularly the Afghan nationals who either joined the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or were thinking to be part of the group. Scores of such Afghans were arrested as well as those who were facilitating young people to join the ranks of TTP. Those steps encouraged Pakistan to increase interaction with the Afghan Taliban government. The decision was also significant since India was trying to exploit the strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan to its advantage. A statement issued here by the Foreign Office said Foreign Minister Muttaqi welcomed the decision of Pakistan to up-grade its diplomatic relations to the ambassador level and informed that Afghanistan decided to reciprocate the same. He termed it a very positive development in bilateral relations. Both leaders also reviewed implementation of decisions taken during DPM/FM's visit to Kabul on 19 April 2025 and vowed to continue working together to establish mutual trust between the two brotherly nations. Emphasizing the importance of Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project for regional connectivity, both leaders agreed to work closely for an early finalisation of the framework agreement, according to the statement. The Afghan foreign minister is expected to visit Islamabad soon. This will be Muttaqi's first visit to Pakistan in two years. Pakistan and Afghanistan ties have remained strained since Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to advance key railway project
'Emphasising the importance of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project for regional connectivity, both leaders agreed to work closely for an early finalisation of the framework agreement,' it said. The agreement to advance the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project came during a telephonic conversation between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Office said in a statement. Islamabad, Jun 1 (PTI) Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday agreed to advance a vital railway line project, considered a key step for regional connectivity. The development came after Pakistan on May 30 announced to upgrade its diplomatic ties with Kabul to ambassador level, followed by a similar move by Afghanistan. According to the foreign office, Muttaqi during telephonic conversation welcomed the decision of Pakistan to upgrade its diplomatic relations to the ambassador level and informed that Afghanistan decided to reciprocate the same. 'He termed it a very positive development in bilateral relations,' according to the statement. Both leaders also reviewed implementation of decisions taken during DPM/FM's visit to Kabul on April 19 and vowed to continue working together to establish mutual trust between the two brotherly nations. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan had come under stress after Islamabad accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists. Observers opine that the ties are apparently improving due to efforts of China, which is using a trilateral mechanism involving the foreign ministers of the three countries to sort out differences. The railway project to link Pakistan with Central Asia through Afghanistan is an important project to improve interconnectivity in the region. Dar's interaction with Muttaqi comes a day after he held a telephone conversation with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich on Saturday. 'They discussed the modalities for early finalisation of the framework agreement for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project, including details of its signing ceremony in consultation with leadership of Afghanistan,' the foreign office said. PTI SH PTI SH SCY SCY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to advance key railway project
Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to expedite the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway line project, a crucial step towards enhancing regional connectivity. This decision followed a telephonic conversation between officials, emphasizing the project's importance. Both nations also decided to upgrade diplomatic ties, signaling improved relations after recent tensions, potentially facilitated by China's mediation efforts. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday agreed to advance a vital railway line project , considered a key step for regional connectivity The agreement to advance the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) rail project came during a telephonic conversation between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Foreign Office said in a statement."Emphasising the importance of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project for regional connectivity, both leaders agreed to work closely for an early finalisation of the framework agreement," it development came after Pakistan on May 30 announced to upgrade its diplomatic ties with Kabul to ambassador level, followed by a similar move by to the foreign office, Muttaqi during telephonic conversation welcomed the decision of Pakistan to upgrade its diplomatic relations to the ambassador level and informed that Afghanistan decided to reciprocate the same."He termed it a very positive development in bilateral relations," according to the leaders also reviewed implementation of decisions taken during DPM/FM's visit to Kabul on April 19 and vowed to continue working together to establish mutual trust between the two brotherly between Pakistan and Afghanistan had come under stress after Islamabad accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) opine that the ties are apparently improving due to efforts of China, which is using a trilateral mechanism involving the foreign ministers of the three countries to sort out railway project to link Pakistan with Central Asia through Afghanistan is an important project to improve interconnectivity in the region Dar's interaction with Muttaqi comes a day after he held a telephone conversation with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich on Saturday."They discussed the modalities for early finalisation of the framework agreement for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project, including details of its signing ceremony in consultation with leadership of Afghanistan," the foreign office said.
DW
3 days ago
- Business
- DW
Afghanistan, Pakistan upgrade ties amid diplomatic thaw – DW – 05/31/2025
In a sign of warming relations between Kabul and Islamabad, the two neighbors have decided to appoint ambassadors in each other's capitals. The decision came days after their top diplomats met in Beijing. Afghanistan welcomed the decision to upgrade ties with Pakistan to the ambassador's level, Kabul's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's office said on Saturday. "This elevation in diplomatic representation between Afghanistan and Pakistan paves the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation in multiple domains," the Afghan Foreign Ministry posted on X. Relations between the two neighbors have long been strained over Islamabad's accusations that Kabul harbors Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan's attempts to deport tens of thousands of Afghans have also contributed to bilateral tensions. Pakistan steps up deportation drive of Afghan refugees To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Upgraded Afghanistan-Pakistan ties On Friday, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the charge d'affaires in Kabul would be elevated to the rank of ambassador. He also said that their relations are "on [a] positive trajectory" since he visited Afghanistan in April. Later, Kabul announced that it would reciprocate the move. The decision came after Muttaqi met with Dar and their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a trilateral meeting in Beijing earlier this month. After their talks, Wang expressed Beijing's willingness "to continue to assist with improving Afghanistan-Pakistan ties." Muttaqi is due to visit Pakistan "in the coming days," ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP news agency. Since Kabul fell to the Taliban in 2021, only a handful of countries have agreed to host Taliban government ambassadors. No country has officially recognized the administration. Edited by: Wesley Dockery
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First Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
‘New Afghan Visa' module for Taliban-led nation amid post-Pahalgam strategic push
A notification posted on the government's official visa portal announced the launch of the 'New AFGHAN Visa' module available for six categories read more As India and Afghanistan's Taliban improve ties, New Delhi has reopened visa services to Afghan nationals. The visas will be mainly issued to people who want to seek medical treatments in India on a case-to-case basis. Who will get the visas? A notification posted on the government's official visa portal announced the launch of the 'New AFGHAN Visa' module available for six categories. Sources have told the Economic Times that priority will be given to people with ailments. The newly updated portal features categories such as student, business, medical, medical attendant, entry, and UN diplomat visas. Applicants must upload a recent front-facing photograph, along with their passport and national ID card, both of which should include personal details like name, date of birth, nationality, and expiry date. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD New Delhi-Taliban relationship Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he held a 'good conversation' with acting Muttaqi during which the two leaders discussed India's 'traditional friendship' with the Taliban-ruled country and the ways to take the bilateral cooperation forward. Jaishankar also appreciated Muttaqi's condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. He also welcomed Muttaqi's 'firm rejection' of what he called 'recent attempts to create distrust between India and Afghanistan through false and baseless reports.' 'Underlined our traditional friendship with the Afghan people and continued support for their development needs. Discussed ways and means of taking cooperation forward,' Jaishankar said. Muttaqi strongly rejected Pakistan's allegations of missile attacks by India on Afghanistan, official sources told PTI. It was an apparent reference to a report in a section of the Pakistani media that claimed India had 'hired' the Taliban to carry out a 'false flag' operation at Pahalgam. India has also approved the entry of 160 buses from Afghanistan carrying dry fruits and nuts via the Attari border in Punjab as a 'special gesture'. Pakistan had initially blocked the Afghan trucks access to pass through the border, following which the country's authorities allowed some of them to unload at Attari.
