ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban on Friday marked the fourth anniversary of their return to power with a high-profile gathering at a local hotel, attended by diplomats, politicians, and senior officials.
The event featured the first public appearance of Sardar Shakeeb since his elevation as Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, following Islamabad’s decision to upgrade his status from chargé d’affaires.
Diplomatic representatives from China, Russia, Malaysia, the United Nations, and other countries joined Pakistani journalists and political figures at the ceremony. Among the prominent attendees were Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, opposition leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Asad Qaiser, provincial spokesperson Barrister Saif, and former federal minister Mohammad Ali Durrani.
Governor Kundi reiterated Pakistan’s desire for friendly ties with Kabul, stressing that peace in Afghanistan was vital for stability in Pakistan. Ambassador Shakeeb, in his remarks, reaffirmed the Taliban government’s policy of non-interference, pledging that Afghan soil would not be used against neighbors. He underlined Kabul’s opposition to terrorism and urged that Afghan refugees be repatriated respectfully and voluntarily. Shakeeb added that around four million Afghans had returned from Pakistan and Iran over the past four years, with the Islamic Emirate offering support within its limited resources.
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The event concluded with a formal dinner, providing space for informal exchanges between diplomats and political leaders — a symbolic gesture pointing to a new phase in Pakistan–Afghanistan relations under Taliban rule.