Saadullah Baloch, Acting Ambassador of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan in Jakarta, and Riki Ihsan, Director for East Asia and Central Asia at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met and discussed the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, and diplomatic spheres, while emphasizing the friendly relations and mutual respect between the two countries.

According to a statement from the Embassy of the Islamic Emirate in Jakarta, the two sides also discussed holding meetings and official visits by senior officials of both countries in order to strengthen coordination and consolidate relations.

Baloch and Ihsan further discussed encouraging investment in Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of creating a suitable environment and providing facilities in this area, as well as enhancing economic cooperation.

They also stressed the strengthening and further expansion of friendly relations and constructive cooperation between Afghanistan and Indonesia, and expressed their readiness to continue contacts and cooperation.

China’s Ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, met with Qudratullah Jamal, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Finance, and Administration at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture, to discuss ways to strengthen tourism cooperation and expand cultural ties between the two countries.

During the meeting, Jamal urged China to share expertise and cooperate in key areas, including tourism development, capacity building and training for students at the Tourism and Hotel Management Institute, visa facilitation, tourism marketing, and investment in tourism infrastructure.

He also highlighted the historical importance of the Silk Road and called for joint efforts to organize exhibitions in both countries and promote the exchange of specialists.

Ambassador Zhao described Afghanistan–China relations as positive and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to preserving and expanding bilateral ties. He expressed readiness to cooperate and share experiences in the discussed areas, stressing that stronger cultural and tourism relations require sustained bilateral cooperation.

Faisal Karim Kundi, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has criticized the province’s Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, for what he described as “defending Afghanistan” on security matters.

Speaking a press conference, the governor said the chief minister was repeatedly asking for evidence of terrorism originating from Afghanistan, whereas he should seek a detailed briefing from the inspector general of police.

“If Afghanistan is not involved in terrorism, then who is?” he questioned, adding that the international community had already acknowledged that Afghan soil was being used for terrorist activities in Pakistan, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. 

Pakistani officials have consistently claimed that militants use Afghan territory to carry out attacks in Pakistan, an allegation that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has denied.