Afghanistan to open consulate in Lahore

New Afghan envoy says opening of consulate will further promote trade and culture ties between the two countries.

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan is planning to open a consulate in Lahore as part of its efforts to further strengthen ties with Pakistan, Kabul’s new Ambassador to Islamabad Janan Mosazai said on Friday.

The new Afghan envoy said the opening of a consulate in Lahore would further promote trade and culture ties between the two countries. Afghanistan currently has consulates in three Pakistani cities, namely Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.

When contacted, Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told The Express Tribune that Afghanistan had not formally approached the government regarding its plans to open a consulate in Lahore.

“There is no formal request, but the Afghan ambassador mentioned his country’s desire to open a consulate in Lahore. He was asked to make a formal request,” she said.

Mosazai, who is due to present his credentials to President Mamnoon Hussain soon, has replaced Omar Daudzai, who has been appointed as Afghanistan’s interior minister.

The new Afghan envoy said Islamabad and Kabul shared common history, religion and culture, and hoped that ties between the two countries would further improve in the future.

Mosazai had been serving as the spokesperson for Afghanistan’s foreign ministry before he was assigned the crucial diplomatic job in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2014.