Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to boost bilateral co-operation

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through enhanced cooperation in key areas including security, trade, transit, and connectivity.

The agreement came during delegation-level talks in Kabul, led by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Both sides emphasised the importance of sustained high-level engagement to address mutual concerns and deepen cooperation.

The discussions covered a wide range of bilateral issues, with a strong focus on regional trade, border management, and people-to-people contacts.

Dar underscored the need to resolve outstanding security and border-related matters to fully harness the potential of regional connectivity and economic integration.

The Pakistani delegation included senior officials from the interior ministry, railways, foreign affairs, and the Federal Board of Revenue. Dar was received by senior Afghan officials upon arrival in Kabul for the one-day visit.

The meeting follows a week of active diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

A Pakistani delegation led by Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq Khan recently held talks in Kabul, while an Afghan delegation, led by its commerce minister, visited Islamabad for discussions.

During the latest Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting, Pakistani officials noted a possible shift in the Afghan Taliban’s posture toward the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which remains a core security concern for Islamabad.