ISLAMABAD/KABUL – The Interim Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir KhanMuttaqi is expected to visit Pakistan in a bid to reset the ties betweenthe two sides.
Report of *Express Tribune* quoting sources said the visit by the interimAfghan foreign minister will be the first one since Taliban ousted thewestern-backed government in August.
The recent development comes two weeks after Pakistan Foreign Minister ShahMehmood Qureshi visited the Afghan capital and held wide-ranging talks withthe Afghan leadership.
FM Qureshi, after his recent visit to Kabul, reported a ‘visible change’ inthe approach of the Taliban officials. The new administration in thewar-ravaged country is ready to take steps to improve the ties, somethingthe previous government was reluctant to do, he said in a post-visitpresser.
Meanwhile, the delegation led by Muttaqi will also include several seniorTaliban officials who will exchange views on a wide range of issues withPakistani authorities.
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On the other hand, the South Asian country has not formally recognized theTaliban government as Islamabad decided to recognize the Taliban governmentwith the consent of regional and international powers and urged all Afghanleaders to take all stakeholders on board for sustainable peace andstability in the country.
The incumbent authorities in Pakistan feel that engagement, as opposed todisengagement, is the best way forward in dealing with the currentsituation of Afghanistan.
Pakistan is expecting the Taliban to fulfill their commitments including aninclusive government, protecting women’s rights, and not allowing theAfghan soil to be used again by any terrorist outfit.
