ISLAMABAD: The highly anticipated visit of Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to Islamabad, scheduled to begin on August 4, has been postponed at the last minute due to a “technical issue,” according to officials. Preparations for the three-day trip had been completed, with all engagements confirmed, but the visit was delayed before formal announcements could be made.
While the nature of the technical issue was not disclosed, it is believed to be related to the UNSC-imposed travel ban on Taliban leaders. Both sides are working to resolve the issue, and the visit is expected to take place soon.
The visit had been eagerly awaited as part of efforts to rebuild strained bilateral relations. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has visited Kabul twice since April, leading a diplomatic push to resolve ongoing tensions, particularly concerning the presence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other anti-Pakistan groups. The Taliban administration has reportedly taken steps to discourage Afghan nationals from joining the TTP.
In a positive development, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to upgrade their diplomatic relations to ambassadorial level. Beijing has also been instrumental in fostering closer ties between Islamabad and Kabul.
Sources confirmed that Muttaqi remains committed to visiting Pakistan once the issue is resolved, marking his first trip since May 2023, when he participated in a trilateral meeting with Pakistan and China. The diplomatic exchanges have led to some progress in addressing security concerns, with Pakistan continuing to encourage further actions against the TTP and similar groups.
