KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistan has decided to upgrade its diplomatic presence in Kabul by appointing an ambassador to replace the current chargé d’affaires, aiming to restore bilateral relations with the Taliban.
The country’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar confirmed the decision in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, saying it would strengthen engagement with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan-Afghanistan relations are on a positive trajectory after my productive visit to Kabul with the Pakistan delegation on 19 April 2025,” Dar said. “To maintain this momentum, I am pleased to announce the decision of the Government of Pakistan to upgrade the level of its chargé d’affaires in Kabul to the level of ambassador.”
He added that the upgrade would help deepen cooperation between the two countries in areas such as the economy, security, trade, and encourage further exchanges.
The decision comes after an “informal” trilateral meeting hosted by China in Beijing last week, where top diplomats from Pakistan and the Taliban agreed in principle to promptly appoint ambassadors. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi also announced plans to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan, a move welcomed by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
No country has officially recognized the Taliban administration, but several have kept diplomatic relations at the chargé d’affaires level. Pakistan will become the fourth country, after China, the UAE, and Uzbekistan, to appoint an ambassador to Kabul.
Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban have been tense in recent years, mainly due to the TTP — a UN-designated terrorist group with ideological ties to the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of sheltering TTP fighters, who are responsible for a rise in militant attacks inside the country.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban to take action against militant groups and prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for attacks on other countries.
According to Pakistani media outlet The Express Tribune, the Taliban has recently begun taking “concrete actions” against the TTP after years of delay, including detaining individuals linked to cross-border attacks.
The media outlet, citing diplomatic sources, also reported that Amir Khan Muttaqi will soon visit Islamabad as part of efforts to boost high-level exchanges.
