Pakistan Upgrades Diplomatic Relations with Taliban-led Afghanistan to Ambassador Level

Kokcha News Agency: Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that diplomatic relations with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan have been upgraded to the ambassadorial level. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that both countries have mutually agreed to elevate their respective chargés d’affaires in Islamabad and Kabul to the rank of ambassador. She confirmed that bilateral relations are now at the ambassador level, and the process is complete from Pakistan’s perspective.

The spokesperson explained that the Taliban-appointed ambassador in Islamabad now enjoys full diplomatic protocol and does not need to present credentials. This move follows remarks by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on May 30, who announced that Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul would be elevated to ambassador. Dar expressed hope that this step would enhance economic, security, counter-terrorism, and trade cooperation between the two nations, facilitating greater interaction between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

However, as of the announcement, no response has been issued by Taliban officials in Kabul.

Regarding reports of the postponement of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to Pakistan, the Foreign Office spokesperson clarified that Islamabad had never officially announced the visit, and the date has yet to be finalized. She noted that discussions to determine the timing of the visit are ongoing, and an official announcement will be made only after mutual agreement.

Earlier sources had suggested that the three-day visit was scheduled to begin on August 4 but was delayed due to the United Nations Sanctions Committee not issuing the necessary travel permit. Reports indicate that opposition from the United States in the Security Council was the primary reason for the postponement. Muttaqi has previously visited Pakistan twice and recently participated in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Turkey and a trilateral meeting with Pakistan and China during his May visit to China.

This diplomatic upgrade comes amid ongoing political, security, and diplomatic challenges between the two countries, particularly concerning the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and the issue of Afghan migrants, which could impact the quality of relations in the future.