Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Kabul for a one-day official visit on Saturday.
He was welcomed at the airport by the dignitaries of the Afghan government, including Dr.Mohammad Naeem Wardag, Dy. Minister for Finance and Administration, MoFA, Mufti Noor Ahmad, DG MoFA, Faisal Jalali, Chief of State Protocol. Pakistan’s Head of Mission in Afghanistan, Ambassador Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani, and officers of the embassy were also present on the occasion.
On Saturday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, accompanied by a high-level delegation, departed for Kabul from Noor Khan Airbase. The delegation included Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Sadiq Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries from commerce, railways, and interior ministries, as well as other senior officials.
Before departure, Dar spoke to the media, stressing the importance of rebuilding Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan. He emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between the two neighboring Muslim nations and said he was carrying a message of goodwill.
“We must work together for economic development and the welfare of our people,” he said, noting the deep historical and cultural ties between the two countries. “Our relationship has always been like that of brothers — it should remain that way.”
Dar acknowledged that relations had cooled in recent years due to Pakistan’s concerns over terrorism and national security. “The safety of our citizens and the security of the country are top priorities. These issues have created distance,” he stated.
Despite current tensions, Dar expressed optimism about boosting trade and economic cooperation. “There is vast potential between both countries. A railway link through Afghanistan could connect us to Central Asia,” he noted, while highlighting the need for Afghanistan to first establish a railway authority.
He also regretted that the existing potential for economic collaboration remains largely untapped.
During his visit, Dar is expected to meet with senior Afghan officials to discuss regional stability, trade, and bilateral relations.
