An important turning point in the two nations’ developing relationship has been reached with Pakistan’s intention to nominate an ambassador, the first since the Taliban took power in August 2021, to improve its diplomatic representation in Afghanistan.
After several high-level meetings, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made the statement on Friday.
Notably, this action was taken just days after the foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, and the Taliban-led government of Afghanistan gathered in Beijing for a trilateral ministerial meeting to discuss bilateral relations and regional cooperation.
China’s aggressive position as a mediator and facilitator in South Asian geopolitics, particularly between Islamabad and Kabul, was highlighted by the Beijing meeting, which had both open and closed-door discussions.
In order to promote bilateral communication, Pakistan’s foreign minister traveled to Kabul last month with a high-level team in addition to the recent trilateral engagement. According to Pakistani officials, these initiatives are establishing a “positive trajectory” for relations. Minister Dar was certain that the two adjacent countries’ engagement and exchanges will be further improved by sending an ambassador to Kabul.
Though it retains a charge d’affaires in Islamabad, the Taliban government has not formally reacted to the overture, and Pakistan has not yet revealed the name of the person who will serve as ambassador.
Beijing has positioned itself as a major role in resolving problems between Pakistan and Afghanistan, demonstrating China’s growing power in the area. Beijing’s intention to strengthen its strategic interests was shown by the recent meetings in China, where Foreign Minister Wang Yi held separate discussions with his colleagues from Afghanistan and Pakistan.
India’s recent engagement with the Taliban government, including a ministerial-level meeting on May 15—India’s first such encounter since 2021—is partially the reason for China’s diplomatic approach. In order to better integrate Afghanistan into China’s regional economic framework, Beijing has also stated that Afghanistan will be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a significant infrastructure project that will traverse through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan is still complicated and tense in spite of recent diplomatic developments. Relations have been tense since December 2024 after an attack by Pakistan in Afghanistan’s Paktika province killed about 50 people.
The Taliban government disputes these accusations, claiming that terrorism is a domestic problem for Pakistan and that such incidents start within its own borders. Pakistan asserts that assaults within Pakistan are carried out by terrorist organizations operating from Afghan territory. The Taliban have also expressed disapproval of Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees, specifically the expulsion of tens of thousands of people in recent months.
Since taking office in 2021, the Taliban government has not received official recognition from any nation in the world. But Pakistan’s choice to send an ambassador to Kabul, after China, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan did the same, shows a growing, although cautious, international involvement with the Taliban.
The presence of ambassadors formally presenting their credentials is generally seen as a significant step toward de facto recognition, even though these governments insist that their actions do not amount to formal recognition. As a prerequisite for more extensive diplomatic normalization, the international world is still urging the Taliban to resolve human rights issues, particularly those pertaining to women.
A new chapter in regional diplomacy is marked by Pakistan’s decision to strengthen diplomatic ties with Afghanistan, which was made possible by China’s mediation. The international world is nevertheless hesitant to give the Taliban official legitimacy in the absence of real reforms, even if this step would improve bilateral interaction. Underlying security and humanitarian issues still exist.
