Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, during his visit to Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province on Thursday, stressed the importance of constructive engagement with the Taliban in Afghanistan, describing it as “quite imperative.”
He urged the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan during this “critical juncture”.
According to the Iranian News Agency, IRNA, Prime Minister Sharif held a meeting with Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and inaugurated the Iran-Pakistan electricity transmission line connecting Iran’s Polan to Pakistan’s Jiwani in southern Iran.
As reported by Radio Pakistan, the Pakistani Prime Minister emphasized his country’s commitment to promoting shared prosperity for Afghanistan and the broader region. He said a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is instrumental to regional peace and prosperity.
Pakistan has consistently advocated for engagement with the Taliban, and notably, it was the first country to hand over Afghanistan’s embassy to the group. However, despite maintaining close relations with the Taliban, Pakistan has yet to officially recognize the group’s government in Afghanistan.
