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Islamabad urges Kabul to address bilateral concerns
Pakistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Wednesday urged Afghanistan’s caretaker government to address pressing issues in bilateral ties for fully realizing the potential of the two countries’ relationship.
The call came during a meeting on Wednesday with Mullah Shirin, the governor of Kandahar and deputy head of military intelligence and strategy in the Islamic Emirate administration in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.
Jilani, during the conversation, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining engagement and nurturing mutually beneficial ties with Afghanistan.
He emphasized the importance of addressing all contentious issues to enhance trade and connectivity between the two nations, read the statement.
Shirin’s visit is viewed as critically important due to his high-ranking position within the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and his close ties with the top leadership.
Accompanied by representatives from various Afghan government agencies, including the Ministry of Defence and the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), Shirin’s delegation engaged in discussions focusing on key mutual concerns.
These included peace and security, and people-to-people contacts, as per a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The visiting delegation also appreciated Pakistan for the generous support extended to millions of Afghans for over four decades and agreed to continue high-level engagement and dialogue to further strengthen bilateral relations, read the statement.
The Afghan delegation, led by Shirin, also participated in the 6th session of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee (JCC).
The JCC meeting explored coordination mechanisms to facilitate cross-border movement, aiming to promote people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
According to the Afghan embassy statement, Shirin, as deputy defence minister, previously headed a commission formed to discuss border control and violations with neighbouring countries.
This commission has engaged in discussions with Iran, Turkmenistan, and others, with Shirin’s current visit being a continuation of these diplomatic efforts, the embassy added.
Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US special representative for Afghanistan, has questioned Pakistan’s commitment to the welfare of the Afghan people, citing Islamabad’s policies over the past three decades.
Khalilzad said in a post on X that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif advocated for the rights of Afghan women during his speech at the UN General Assembly on Friday.
Sharif said: “Fundamental rights of the Afghan people — especially women and girls — must be respected.”
Responding to the remarks, Khalilzad said Pakistan’s policies over the past 30 years raise questions about Sharif’s commitment to Afghan welfare.
He cited Pakistan’s support for militant groups against US forces and what he described as the poor treatment of Afghan refugees as examples.
Khalilzad also said Afghanistan and Pakistan need and should have much better relations, adding that “a reset is necessary.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Rabab Fatima, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that Misri underscored the need to keep addressing the humanitarian needs of the Afghan people as a priority.
Misri also appreciated the role of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and reaffirmed India’s continued cooperation with the United Nations on Afghanistan.
The meeting comes as Afghanistan continues to face humanitarian and economic challenges, with international agencies warning of significant needs among the Afghan population.
Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi has called for pragmatic and coordinated international engagement with Afghanistan, saying the country’s long-term stability is closely linked to the security and sustainable development of Central Asia.
Speaking during the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday, Tileuberdi said humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan remains essential but alone cannot break the cycle of poverty, displacement and dependency.
He said Kazakhstan supports a “pragmatic, coordinated and step-by-step” approach to international engagement with Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a central role.
Tileuberdi also said Kazakhstan is working with the UN to operationalize the United Nations Regional Centre for the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.
He said the success of the centre should be measured by the results and assistance it delivers to the region.
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