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Absence of special envoy seen as Islamabad’s ‘reluctance’ to engage with IEA
The Pakistani government removed Durrani amid tensions with Kabul. No official explanation was provided.
Questions have been raised over Pakistan’s failure to appoint a new special envoy for Afghanistan after Asif Durrani, a retired diplomat, was removed from the post almost six weeks ago.
Sources familiar with the issue told Pakistan’s Express Tribune that Islamabad’s reluctance to appoint a new envoy “reflects Pakistan’s strategy to avoid extensive engagement with the Taliban (Islamic Emirate) government due to its ongoing support for the banned TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan)”.
The Tribune reported that the government’s hesitation stems from the ineffectiveness of the role, given the minimal diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, adding that “officials at the Foreign Office believe they can manage Afghan affairs without needing a retired diplomat in the position”.
Regional countries and other stakeholders have typically appointed special representatives to address concerns and coordinate with international partners over issues relating to Afghanistan.
However, on September 10, the Pakistani government removed Durrani amid tensions with Kabul. No official explanation was provided.
The Tribune reports however, that tensions are running high, with Pakistan continuing to accuse the Islamic Emirate of not taking steps against the TTP in Afghanistan.
The Islamic Emirate meanwhile has repeatedly denied providing sanctuary to the militant group and has also urged Pakistan on numerous occasions to find a political settlement to the problem.
Pakistan, initially, did talk to the TTP at the request of the Islamic Emirate, but the talks soon collapsed and Pakistan saw an uptick in TTP attacks.
Pakistan says communities living along the Afghanistan-Pakistan Durand Line want peace and stability, despite ongoing security concerns in the region.
Speaking during a weekly media briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said there are no major issues between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, adding that residents on both sides of the Durand Line want peaceful relations and greater regional stability.
However, Andrabi claimed that terrorism originating from Afghan territory continues to undermine peace efforts.
He said Islamabad believes militant activity crossing from Afghanistan remains a significant obstacle to improving regional security and bilateral ties.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has repeatedly rejected such allegations, maintaining that no militant group is allowed to use Afghan soil to threaten neighboring countries.
Andrabi also said Pakistan remains diplomatically engaged on regional matters involving Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Somalia, stressing that dialogue and diplomacy remain Islamabad’s preferred means of resolving disputes.
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Afghanistan-Gambia ties discussed during Doha meeting
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
Suhail Shaheen, head of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Doha, has met with Omar Jah, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to Qatar, to discuss bilateral relations and areas of mutual interest.
According to a statement from the Afghan embassy in Doha, Jah also oversees Gambian diplomatic affairs related to Afghanistan.
The meeting focused on Afghanistan-Gambia relations, the current security situation in Afghanistan, and potential investment opportunities in the country.
Both sides also exchanged views on strengthening diplomatic engagement and exploring future economic cooperation.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and head of the Pakhtunkhwa Awami National Party, has said that if capable statesmen had been in power, people living on both sides of the Durand Line could have moved freely across the line.
Speaking during a podcast interview, Achakzai said that countries with histories of major conflict, including Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom, now maintain far more open borders despite past wars. He said that in many such regions, only a “paper line” remains, with limited border restrictions.
Drawing comparisons with the disputed Durand Line boundary between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Achakzai argued that a similar arrangement could have been possible in South Asia.
“What is the problem here? A Punjabi could dance in Kandahar and a Pashtun could come here. Even if we are not formally one country, we could have effectively functioned like one,” he said.
The Pakistani politician also referred to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the later U.S.-led intervention, saying Afghanistan has the right to seek war reparations from those countries to support reconstruction efforts.
Achakzai further criticised the treatment of Pashtuns in Pakistan, alleging that individuals in cities including Lahore and Karachi have faced detention and deportation.
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