Latest news with #Pakistan-Afghanistan
Business Recorder
16 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Afghan acting FM to visit Pakistan for high-level talks next month
ISLAMABAD: The Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Amir Khan Muttaqi, is expected to visit Pakistan early next month along with a delegation for high-level talks for expansion of bilateral economic, trade and political cooperation and reduction of bilateral tension, reliable sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) revealed on Monday. This would be Muttaqi's first visit to Pakistan in two years, highlighting the uptick in high-level exchanges between the two neighbouring countries during recent months. Sources said that the final dates for the visit are currently being worked out by Islamabad and Kabul. The visit follows an invitation extended by Deputy Foreign Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, during his visit to Afghanistan on April 19. Muttaqi's visit will help further promote and strengthen bilateral relations. The ties between Islamabad and Kabul remain tense due to surge in terrorism from across the border. Pakistan had repeatedly urged Afghanistan to stop use of its soil against Pakistan and dismantle Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts. It is worth mentioning here that the two leaders have met several times during last couple of months, including in Beijing, where China hosted an informal trilateral meeting aimed at strengthening Pakistan-Afghanistan ties and promoting regional connectivity. They also held discussions in Istanbul on the sidelines of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting late last month. In a substantial diplomatic development, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to elevate their Charge d'affaires to the level of ambassadors. Pakistan has upgraded Ubaidullah Nizamani to the rank of full Ambassador, while Sardar Shakeeb has been elevated to Ambassador in Islamabad in a tit-for-tat move. Pakistani Foreign Minister Dar also paid an important one-day visit to Kabul last week, accompanied by a high-level Pakistani delegation. During the visit, he held extensive talks with top Afghan leadership on the sidelines of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Framework Agreement discussions. Leadership of Pakistan and Afghanistan has agreed to elevate the relationships to new heights. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Pakistani Taliban recruiting actively in Bangladesh, but intel agencies clueless
After years of wreaking havoc in Pakistan, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – a jihadist terrorist group – now appears to be recruiting and expanding its footprint to Bangladesh. The activities of the TTP in Bangladesh, which shares an over 4,000-km-long border with India, might come as a concern to New Delhi. What makes the situation graver is that the Bangladeshi security and intelligence establishment seems oblivious to the is evidence of at least two Pakistani Taliban recruits from Bangladesh travelling to Afghanistan via Pakistan. One of them was killed in April in an encounter with the Pakistan Army in comes even as Malaysia detained 36 Bangladeshi nationals in June for their alleged ties to militant networks. The TTP mainly operates in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of the rise in activities of the TTP come even as Bangladesh sees home-grown jihadi groups getting a boost after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime in August July, Bangladesh's Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) arrested two individuals, Shamin Mahfuz and Md Foysal, for alleged links to the TTP, according to Dhaka-based The Daily authorities are focused on containing the threat through intelligence-driven operations, said the ATU, established by Bangladesh Police in 2017, targets such threats using advanced intelligence arrests follow a May report by Bangladeshi digital outlet The Dissent, which revealed that at least eight Bangladeshi nationals are currently active in Afghanistan as TTP of them was reportedly killed by the Pakistan army in April, though news of his death only surfaced in Bangladeshi media in Bangladesh's security establishment seems unaware of these Rahman Chowdhury, who identifies himself as a human rights activist and a political analyst on X, wrote on Tuesday, "I am wondering about the possible number of active members of the Pakistan-based banned militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Bangladesh. Yet, various officers of ranks like DIG and Police Commissioner from the Yunus-led interim government's administration have repeatedly stated that there are no militants in the country...""Bangladesh authorities arrested a man from Gaibandha for being associated with Pakistan-based terrorist organisation. A rare good job in recent time... (sic)," Soumik Saheb, who identifies as a human rights activist, took a dig at the country's security establishment and the with two arrests and reports of Bangladeshi nationals actively joining the Pakistani Taliban, more arrests could is no stranger to extremist violence – a 2016 Islamic State-linked attack in Dhaka killed 22 civilians and triggered nationwide crackdowns on militant TERROR GROUP LEADER ARRESTED AGAINOn July 14, the ATU arrested Shamin Mahfuz in Narayanganj, following his alleged involvement with the TTP. A former leader of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and founder of Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya in 2019, Shamin has a significant militant detained in 2014 for Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) recruitment and in 2023 by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit with explosives, he faces 10 cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act, Explosives Act, and Arms November 2005, JMB marked a grim chapter in the nation's history by carrying out its first-ever suicide was released on bail in October 2024. He allegedly collaborated with Nathan Bom of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), a Bandarban-based separatist group, to establish militant training camps in the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Shamin and Nathan Bom were close friends at Dhaka University, according to The Daily Star report. Bangladesh police escort Shamin Mahfuz (second left) and his wife (second right) after his arrest in the capital Dhaka in 2023. (Photo: AFP) advertisementA Dhaka University graduate and former teacher at Bangladesh Open University, Shamin, known as "Sir" in militant circles, was expelled from a cadet college for ties to Islami Chhatrashibir. He is currently under a five-day remand for questioning.2 BANGLADESHI TTP Recruits TRAVELLED TO AFGHANISTANMeanwhile, on July 2, Md Foysal, 33, was arrested at his shop, Bhai Brothers Telecom, in Savar city, based on intelligence linking him to the TTP, The Daily Star also allegedly travelled to Afghanistan via Pakistan in October 2024 with Ahmed Jubair, a Bangladeshi national who was killed in a Pakistan Army operation in Waziristan in April to Foysal's reported confession, he and Jubair were recruited by Imran Haider, an aeronautical engineer who he met in Afghanistan, a central figure in mobilising Bangladeshi youths for militant ideology online and preparing for jihad.A case was filed on July 5 under the Anti-Terrorism Act naming Foysal and five others — Imran Haider, Rezaul Karim Abrar, Asif Adnan, Zakaria Masud, and Md Sanaf Hasan — for these remains in jail pending further investigation, the Dhaka-based daily arrests align with regional efforts to curb militancy, as seen in Malaysia's detention of 36 Bangladeshi nationals in June for alleged militant network ties, according to Malaysian outlet New Straits to Reuters, all of them had gone to Malaysia to work in factories or in sectors like construction and services. The network recruited Bangladeshi workers and used social media and messaging platforms to spread extremist ideologies, per police intelligence quoted by network also reportedly raised funds using international fund transfer services and e-wallets to send to the IS group in Syria and Bangladesh. Five were charged with being part of a terrorist organisation, while 15 will be deported to Bangladesh. Another 16 remained in custody pending further probe, the Reuters report of the crackdown and arrests of two terrorists, the presence of TTP-linked operatives in Bangladesh is a troubling development for a nation already grappling with political turmoil. It might also be of concern for India.- EndsMust Watch
Business Recorder
30-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dar urges India to rethink hostile policies that threaten regional peace, stability
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has urged India to rethink its present hostile and misguided policies that threaten peace and undermine security in South Asia. Speaking at an event held to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the Institute for Strategic Studies (ISSI), the minister said that amid the global turbulence and transformation, 'Pakistan is charting a forward-looking course as a confident and self-assured nation - resolutely safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity and shouldering its obligations as a responsible member of the international community'. He said that Pakistan values the efforts of all friendly countries, including the U.S., KSA, UAE, and Türkiye that resulted in preventing further escalation between India and Pakistan and putting the ceasefire in place. 'Going forward, it is essential to consolidate the ceasefire, institute a reliable crisis management mechanism, and develop confidence building measures that would help stabilise the regional security situation,' the foreign minister said. Dar added that the outcome of the 4-day war with India once again underscored the reality that India can neither intimidate nor coerce Pakistan. 'New Delhi must, therefore, rethink its present hubristic and misguided policies that threaten peace and undermine security in South Asia.' Meanwhile, the minister said that Pakistan also believes that time has come to re-imagine regional cooperation in South Asia and in our extended neighbourhood. 'The negative impulses of dominance and hegemony have long stymied this process and made SAARC dysfunctional. Our region instead needs a positive spirit of solidarity, mutually-beneficial collaboration, and shared prosperity,' he said. On Afghanistan, the deputy PM said that in recent months, Pakistan has purposefully made efforts to reset Pakistan-Afghanistan relations on a positive trajectory. He said both the countries have agreed to upgrade the diplomatic representation to Ambassadorial level and extend CPEC to Afghanistan. 'If the Interim Afghan Government works with complete sincerity and wholeheartedly, the fruits of our economic cooperation, efforts for regional integration, and connectivity would be enormous. Not only the people of Afghanistan will benefit tremendously but also the dividends of shared prosperity would extend to Central Asia and beyond.' The ISSI was founded in1973 and has evolved into one of Pakistan's foremost strategic think-tanks. It is known for generating quality research, promoting thought leadership, and fostering inclusive dialogue among diverse stakeholders.
AllAfrica
18-06-2025
- Business
- AllAfrica
Taliban making steady gains toward global legitimacy
The Taliban's quest for legitimacy is gaining momentum after Pakistan upgraded diplomatic ties last month, promoting its charge d'affaires in Kabul to the rank of ambassador and accepting the Taliban's counterpart in Islamabad. At the time, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship was on a 'positive trajectory' and that the move was a positive step towards 'enhanced engagement' in the areas of trade, security and counterterrorism. This is a big win for the Taliban, particularly after its relationship with Islamabad broke down over terror attacks on Pakistani soil by the Taliban-affiliated militant group Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The situation had reached crisis levels when Pakistan carried out airstrikes on alleged terror camps in Afghanistan last year, killing 46 people and sparking border skirmishes between Taliban and Pakistani soldiers. Pakistan's recognition is the latest in a series of diplomatic victories for the Taliban. China was the first country to seek closer ties, sending its ambassador to Kabul in 2023 before accepting the credentials of a Taliban envoy in Beijing. At the time, Chinese officials said the Taliban should not be excluded from the international community. Today, China is the Taliban's closest partner. China recently hosted a trilateral meeting with Taliban and Pakistani officials in Beijing that successfully cooled tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan. Beijing also announced it would extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan, representing a potential Belt and Road Initiative-fuelled trade boon for the Taliban. Taliban envoys occupy embassies in every Central Asian country barring Tajikistan, and the United Arab Emirates has also sent an ambassador to Afghanistan. More recently, the Taliban has welcomed Indonesia's chargé d'affaires in Kabul and Iran has accepted the appointment of the Taliban's new Consul General in Mashad. Russia also plans to send an ambassador after removing the Taliban from a list of designated terror organizations. Further afield, Japan hosted a high-level Taliban delegation in February, the first visit to the country by any Afghan government. For a regime accustomed to international isolation, engaging with the likes of Japan and Indonesia is seen as a key route towards international legitimacy. India, too, is bidding to engage with the Taliban. There are reports that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon accept a Taliban ambassador in New Delhi. That comes after Indian and Taliban foreign ministers met in Dubai in January. India clearly thinks this is the time to recognize the Taliban before the country is dominated by rivals Pakistan and China. Even the United States, which battled Taliban insurgents for nearly two decades in the name of the War on Terror, has shown signs of softening on the regime. For example, Washington removed millions of dollars worth of bounties for senior Taliban leaders in March, including for Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, to secure the release of George Glezmann, an American tourist detained by the Taliban in December 2022. Despite this, the Taliban still faces stubborn obstacles to achieving full legitimacy. Most significantly, the regime continues to be denied Afghanistan's seat at the United Nations; it has been barred from taking the seat four times since 2021. Many countries still refuse to recognize the regime due to its abysmal treatment of women – called 'gender apartheid' by the UN experts – and its close links to internationally designated terrorist groups. History shows winning legitimacy is rarely a linear process and is often a game of diplomatic patience. The People's Republic of China spent years in isolation before it was recognized by the West as the legitimate government of China, taking its place on the UN Security Council in 1971 and recognized by Washington only in 1979. This was a decision based on pragmatism – an acknowledgment the PRC was not going anywhere and that engaging with Beijing was then aligned with Western strategic interests. Similarly, while China, India and the US have at one time or another all demanded the Taliban respect women's rights and root out terrorism, these unmet demands have not stopped them and others engaging with the regime by opening embassies, exchanging envoys and making deals. There is a pragmatic view emerging that the Taliban is probably here to stay and that it is better to engage with the regime rather than further isolate Afghanistan. The West seems to believe it can negotiate with so-called Taliban 'reformers' to improve the situation for women and girls, while China, Russia and Iran see the regime as a key ally against the deadly Islamic State in Khorasan (ISK), which has carried out attacks in Russia and Iran and threatened Chinese interests in the region. But the Taliban's words and actions show this approach is not working. The Taliban continues to roll out punitive edicts oppressing women and made it clear its position is fused with its harsh interpretation of Islam and is thus non-negotiable. And the West's decision to engage is no doubt seen by the regime as a sign of weakness, validating its stance and emboldening it to take further hardline positions and policies. Indeed, with reports supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzad has strengthened his power base and marginalized Taliban moderates, reforms look increasingly unlikely. The Taliban has also wholly failed to defeat ISK, seen by the group's brazen assassination of Taliban powerbroker Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani last year, terror attacks on civilians in Russia, Iran and Turkey, and threats to do the same against India. There is also certain evidence ISK has successfully infiltrated the regime's intelligence agencies and attracted disillusioned Taliban soldiers to its ranks. At the same time, The Taliban is believed to be backing Al Qaeda and TTP, likewise failing on its vow to keep Afghanistan terror-free. The regime's inability to divest from terrorism makes the region less safe, a reality experienced by China, Russia, Iran, Pakistan and India since the Taliban returned to power. Legitimizing and emboldening the Taliban, therefore, comes with significant security risks that may ultimately outweigh the potential diplomatic benefits of engagement. Nonetheless, the Taliban is winning the battle of legitimacy despite these failings, helped by Afghanistan's strategic position between Central and South Asia and China's willingness to fill the vacuum left by the US after its fateful 2021 withdrawal.
Express Tribune
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
China welcomes Pak-Afghan ties upgrade
China welcomes the announcement of Pakistan and Afghanistan governments to upgrade their diplomatic relations from the charge d affairs to ambassadorial level, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday. Addressing a regular news briefing, he said that recently, the Pakistani government and the interim Afghan government announced that they would upgrade Pakistan-Afghanistan relations to the ambassadorial level. "China welcomes this and believes that it will help Pakistan and Afghanistan enhance mutual trust, strengthen cooperation and jointly maintain peace and stability in the region," he added. The spokesperson said that this is also an important positive measure for Pakistan and Afghanistan to implement the outcomes of the informal meeting of foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in May this year. "China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in promoting the improvement and development of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan," he added.
