Pakistan has decided to appoint an ambassador to Afghanistan. It will become the fourth country to do so since the Taliban regained control of Kabul in 2021. China, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan have already taken similar steps.
Strengthening diplomatic relations
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced the decision on Friday. He said relations between the two countries had improved since his official visit to Kabul in April. To build on this progress, Pakistan will upgrade its diplomatic mission from a chargé d’affaires to a full ambassador.
Dar made the announcement shortly after a meeting in Beijing with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He said this step would support stronger cooperation in trade, security, and counter-terrorism.
On social media platform X, Dar wrote that the move would help deepen bilateral ties and promote regular exchanges. He added that his April visit had laid the groundwork for closer engagement.
Challenges in bilateral relations
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have often been strained. Islamabad has long accused Kabul of harbouring the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group aligned with the Afghan Taliban. The TTP, though separate from the Afghan Taliban, has reportedly grown stronger since 2021.
So far, Kabul has not publicly responded to Pakistan’s latest move. However, both sides had previously discussed upgrading diplomatic representation.
Another key issue involves Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. The country has stepped up deportation efforts, with tens of thousands of Afghans crossing back into Afghanistan in April. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) noted that many face an uncertain future on return.
Pakistan currently hosts around three million Afghan nationals. Many have lived there for decades due to ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. In October, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a phased plan to return them to their home country.
A step toward normalisation?
At present, both countries operate embassies in each other’s capitals. However, these are led by chargés d’affaires, not ambassadors.
Appointing an ambassador marks a shift in diplomatic posture. While no country has officially recognised the Taliban administration, some experts see this move as a small step towards normalisation. Most governments have made recognition conditional on improvements in areas such as women’s rights.
