According to Afghan state media on Tuesday, a prominent Taliban figure in Afghanistan has voiced the hope that the incoming Pakistani government will treat Kabul with courtesy.
In Kandahar, the Afghan Taliban’s spiritual center, Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires (Cd’A) and head of mission in Kabul, Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamani, was met on Monday by Kandahar Governor Mullah Muhammad Shirin Akhund.
In the midst of tensions between the two uneasy neighbors, the Pakistani envoy traveled to Kandahar to meet with Mullah Shirin, a close friend of the Taliban supreme leader.
The governor of Kandahar reportedly “congratulated the Pakistani envoy over the holding of elections,” according to the state news agency of Afghanistan, Bakhtar.
This is the first time a powerful and senior Taliban figure has discussed elections in Pakistan in public.
When questioned, the Pakistani envoy confirmed that he had met with the governor of Kandahar.
Ambassador Nizamani told Dawn.com, “We agreed to advance Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in all mutually beneficial areas and discussed matters of common interest.”
According to the Pakistani Cd’A, he will “soon go to Pakistan and inform officials about his discussion in Kandahar with the foreign minister and other officials,” according to the Bakhtar news agency.
The news agency said that during the meeting, “other subjects came under discussion.”
The meeting can be interpreted as a follow-up to discussions Mullah Shirin had in Pakistan in January, when he was present at a border coordination meeting and Pakistan expressed dissatisfaction with Kabul’s lack of response to terrorists from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.
Mullah Shirin first met Jalil Abbas Jilani, the acting foreign minister of Pakistan, and then security personnel from that country.
Although TTP attacks continued following the visit, Pakistani officials remained optimistic that the visit would help reduce tension over the group.
The top Taliban leader and the Pakistani ambassador met in Kabul just a few days ago, following a meeting in Kabul between a senior Indian official and Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Afghan foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi wrote on X on March 7 that Indian special envoy to Afghanistan JP Singh had a call with Muttaqi and they discussed in-depth issues related to bilateral relations between Afghanistan and India, as well as commercial and transit-related issues.
“India is interested in expanding political and economic cooperation with Afghanistan and enhancing trade via Chabahar port,” according to a comment from Singh.
“In keeping with our balanced foreign policy, IEA seeks to strengthen political and economic relations with India as an important actor in the region,” Balkhi had stated, thanking India for its humanitarian support. FM Muttaqi also expressed gratitude for the assistance.
