ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan announced Friday that it is upgrading its diplomatic representation in neighboring Afghanistan from chargé d’affaires to ambassador, a move aimed at improving bilateral relations between the two neighbors.
The announcement by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar comes a week after he met with his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, alongside China’s top diplomat during a trilateral meeting in Beijing.
Hours later, Kabul welcomed the Pakistani decision, saying it will also reciprocate by upgrading ties with Pakistan to ambassador’s level.
In a statement, Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, a Taliban Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson, said the elevation of the level of diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan paves the way for the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in many areas.
Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government have embassies in each other’s capitals but were being led by chargés d’affaires. Like the international community, Pakistan has not recognized the Afghan Taliban government.
A chargés d’affaires serves as an embassy’s chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador.
In a statement, Dar during the day said relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have taken a positive turn since his visit to Kabul in April. “To maintain this momentum, I am pleased to announce the decision of the Government of Pakistan to upgrade the level of its chargé d’affaires in Kabul to the level of ambassador,” he said.
Dar expressed hope that the decision would strengthen economic cooperation, boost bilateral trade and enhance joint efforts to combat terrorism.
Tensions between the two countries have long been strained over Pakistan’s accusations that Kabul provides safe haven to Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP and are allies of the Afghan Taliban.
TTP is a separate group and has been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
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