Pakistan’s FM To Visit Kabul For Talks With Taliban Leaders

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will visit Kabul on Saturday at the invitation of the Taliban, leading a senior delegation for a one-day official visit.

During his visit, Dar is scheduled to hold meetings with top Taliban officials, including Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar, and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Foreign Ministry said the discussions will cover a broad range of topics related to Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, with a particular focus on enhancing cooperation in security, trade, regional connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges.

The ministry described the visit as a reflection of Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining sustained engagement with the Taliban. This will be Ishaq Dar’s first visit to Kabul since assuming office as Foreign Minister, and marks the second such visit by a Pakistani foreign minister since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021. His predecessor, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, visited Kabul in October 2021, followed by then-Deputy Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in November 2022.

The visit comes amid heightened tensions between the two sides, fuelled by a surge in insecurity within Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban of providing safe haven to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claiming that the group conducts cross-border attacks from Afghan territory.

In addition, Pakistan has recently launched a second phase of mass deportations of Afghan migrants, expelling thousands daily—an issue that has further strained bilateral relations.

Despite these challenges, diplomatic exchanges have continued. Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan recently visited Kabul, and a Taliban delegation also travelled to Islamabad, signalling ongoing efforts to manage the tense relationship.