Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, arrived in Kabul on Friday amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban. According to sources, he is expected to meet Taliban leaders and attend a bilateral border coordination meeting.
This marks Sadiq’s second visit to the Afghan capital in less than three months. His arrival comes at a time when relations between the two sides have deteriorated, particularly over border clashes and migration policies.
One of the main flashpoints has been the Torkham border crossing. On 21 February, Taliban and Pakistani border forces clashed over the construction of a Taliban checkpoint and the installation of a sign by Pakistani authorities at the zero point of the crossing. In response, Pakistan closed the border to trade and passenger movement.
While the crossing was partially reopened on 19 March for patients and cargo trucks, Afghan travellers are still barred from entering Pakistan.
Relations have been further strained by Pakistan’s ongoing crackdown on Afghan migrants. Authorities have ordered Afghan residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to leave the country by the end of March. This policy forms part of a broader effort to deport undocumented Afghans and has drawn criticism from the Taliban.
Islamabad continues to accuse the Taliban of sheltering fighters from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), alleging that the group uses Afghan soil to stage attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban has consistently rejected these claims.
In recent remarks, Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi acknowledged that tensions with Pakistan remain unresolved. He said that while the Taliban has cordial relations with its five other neighbours, he hopes the ongoing dispute with Islamabad can also be addressed through dialogue.
