Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s acting Foreign Minister, has told Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, that halting transit and trade between the two countries benefits no one.
He called for a clear separation between political disputes and commercial matters.
In a statement issued on Saturday, 23 March, Taliban deputy spokesperson Zia Ahmad Takal said Muttaqi requested a gradual and dignified return of Afghan migrants from Pakistan and urged Islamabad to avoid mass expulsions.
According to the statement, Sadiq acknowledged that security in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest and pledged to improve visa facilitation for Afghan nationals. He also expressed support for expanding trade between the two countries.
Both sides agreed on the importance of taking practical steps to ease trade and transit and committed to resolving disputes through joint meetings.
Sadiq’s visit to Kabul follows weeks of escalating tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban. The Torkham border crossing reopened recently after nearly a month of closure due to a clash on 21 February between Taliban and Pakistani forces. The dispute arose over the Taliban’s construction of a border post and Pakistan’s installation of a road sign at the zero-point of the crossing.
As part of its ongoing crackdown on Afghan migrants, the Pakistani government has given residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi until the end of March to leave the country. This has become a point of contention between the two sides. During the meeting, Muttaqi reiterated the Taliban’s opposition to the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees.
