The Afghan government has announced the appointment of its ambassador to Pakistan, coinciding with Pakistan’s elevation of its chargé d’affaires in Kabul to ambassadorial status.
Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is also scheduled to visit Islamabad soon, signaling a possible thaw in bilateral relations between the two neighbours.
The Afghan Foreign Ministry welcomed Pakistan’s recent decision to grant ambassador status to Obaidur Rehman Nizamani, who was previously serving as Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul.
This marks the first time Pakistan has formally appointed an ambassador to Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of Kabul in August 2021.
In response, Afghanistan has confirmed the appointment of its ambassador to Islamabad, as part of reciprocal efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties. While the name of the newly appointed Afghan ambassador has not been officially disclosed, diplomatic sources have indicated that Maulvi Sardar Ahmad Shakib, currently the Taliban’s top representative in Pakistan, could be elevated to the ambassadorial rank.
The announcement follows an important trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China held in Beijing earlier this week, aimed at enhancing regional cooperation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced Pakistan’s decision on the social media platform X, stating: “I am pleased to announce that the Government of Pakistan has decided to elevate the post of its Charge d’Affaires in Kabul to the rank of ambassador.”
Meanwhile, Afghan news agency Tolo News reported that Amir Khan Muttaqi will visit Islamabad on an official invitation extended by Pakistan. The three-day visit will focus on a range of bilateral issues and is seen as a move to promote high-level diplomatic engagement.
Political analysts consider these developments crucial for improving Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, which have been strained over the past four years due to border clashes, refugee deportations, and security concerns.
Syed Abdullah Sadiq, a political analyst, said that while Afghanistan has yet to gain formal recognition from any country, “being neighbours and Muslim countries, issues can be resolved through political dialogue based on historical relations.”
Another analyst, Khalil Nadeem, underscored Pakistan’s strategic imperative to engage with Afghanistan. “Afghanistan maintains strong ties with India, the former Soviet states, and Arab countries. Pakistan needs to build good relations with Kabul to secure its own regional interests,” he said.
