Pakistan FM Qureshi, ISI Chief Reach Kabul To Discuss Bilateral Issues With Taliban Govt

The foreign minister's visit reflects Pakistan's consistent policy of supporting Afghan people, deepening bilateral trade and economic relations, and facilitating closer people-to-people contacts.

This handout photograph taken on October 21, 2021, released by the Pakistan Foreign Office shows Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi receiving Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi upon his arrival at the airport in Kabul. | AFP

New Delhi: After Pakistan is believed to have played a key role in Taliban peace talks with the US, its foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reached Kabul along with spy agency ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed on Thursday to hold talks with Afghanistan's interim government.

In the day-long visit, the Pakistani delegation is expected to hold talks with Afghanistan's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and meet the leadership of the interim government in Kabul and other Afghan leaders, according to foreign office.

READ: Covid Booster Shot: US Allows 'Mix & Match' Strategy. Pfizer, Moderna, And J&J Shots Approved By FDA

According to news agency PTI, Muttaqi welcomed the Pakistani delegation at the Kabul International Airport.

"The talks between the two sides will cover the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and focus on ways and means to deepen cooperation in diverse areas,” PTI quoted the foreign office as saying.

Afghanistan will also discuss Pakistan's perspective on issues of regional peace and stability. As per the foreign office statement, Pakistan has always stood by Afghanistan and kept its border crossing points open for trade and pedestrian crossing under Covid protocols.

It went on to add that a facilitative visa regime for Afghan nationals and border crossing procedures for trade and cargo have been instituted. Recently, Pakistan provided humanitarian aid and assistance in the form of food and medicines.

The foreign minister's visit reflects Pakistan's consistent policy of supporting the Afghan people, deepening bilateral trade and economic relations, and facilitating closer people-to-people contacts, according to the statement.

The development comes after the recent meeting of officials from China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Russia in Moscow and ahead of an upcoming meeting of foreign ministers of neighbours of Afghanistan including Russia in Tehran next week.

Meanwhile, the interim government of the Taliban has failed to win recognition of the world.