ISLAMABAD — Pakistan announced on Friday that it will upgrade its diplomatic representation in Kabul from chargé d’affaires to ambassador, a move officials say is intended to deepen engagement with Taliban and enhance cooperation between the two countries.
The announcement was made by Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, who said the decision followed what he described as a “very productive” visit to Kabul on April 19.
“Pakistan-Afghanistan relations are on a positive trajectory,” Dar said in a statement. “To maintain this momentum, I am pleased to announce the decision of the Government of Pakistan to upgrade the level of its chargé d’affaires in Kabul to the level of ambassador. I am confident this step will further contribute to enhanced engagement, deepen Pak-Afghan cooperation in economic, security, counterterrorism, and trade areas, and promote further exchanges between the two fraternal countries.”
The diplomatic upgrade comes ahead of a planned visit to Islamabad by Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting foreign minister. It would be his first official visit to Pakistan in two years.
According to Pakistan’s Express Tribune, Muttaqi has accepted Islamabad’s invitation and is expected to arrive for a three-day visit. Discussions are expected to cover a range of issues, including security, regional cooperation, and economic ties.
The trip follows a series of recent engagements aimed at resetting bilateral relations. In March, a Pakistani delegation led by special envoy Mohammad Sadiq visited Kabul, where both sides reportedly agreed on a roadmap for future cooperation.
Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Taliban to take action against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that Islamabad claims is operating from Afghan territory. A United Nations monitoring report last year estimated that nearly 6,000 TTP fighters are based in Afghanistan, a claim Taliban have denied.
