ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghan government agreed on Saturday to strengthen “counter-terrorism” cooperation and continue to establish friendly bilateral relations.
The development occurred during a phone chat between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaq.
“Expanding cooperation in connectivity, trade, security, counter-terrorism, and people-to-people contacts is a top priority for Pakistan,” Dar wrote on X, after receiving a congratulatory call from Afghanistan’s interim minister.
Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to expand their counter-terrorism cooperation.
Earlier this week, Kabul highlighted preserving connections with Islamabad, adding that it was an essential to have improved relations with all its bordering countries.
Zabihullah Mujahid, an Afghan government spokesperson, encouraged Pakistan’s new government to be flexible in its approach to deporting Afghan refugees.
“First, the Islamic Emirate has always desired positive relations with all of its neighbors, including Pakistan, where a new government has emerged. Afghanistan also requires strong relations with Pakistan.
“We want Pakistan to make good progress in various sectors with Afghanistan and ask the future government to solve all its problems,” the spokesperson went on to say.
The development comes amid a tense relationship between the two countries, with Afghanistan’s acting Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund assuring Pakistan earlier this year that his country had no intention of inflicting damage or causing problems for its neighbour.
