Afghan foreign minister meets Pakistani special envoy for talks in Kabul

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) – Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq met with interim Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi to hold talks in Kabul on Saturday.

The sides have discussed bilateral relations between countries, including political and economic cooperation, transit, and people-to-people exchanges, Hafiz Zia Ahmad, the deputy spokesman for the Afghan Foreign Ministry, said on X.

During the discussions, Afghanistan's foreign minister called for the gradual and honorable repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, instead of forced deportations.

UN data shows that there are more than 800,000 Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders in Pakistan. Earlier this month, the Pakistani government "advised" all illegal foreigners and ACC holders to leave the country by the end of March.

Kabul also emphasized that trade and transit being blocked harm both countries.

For his part, the Pakistani envoy said that security in Afghanistan benefits both Pakistan and the region, additionally pledging to take steps to facilitate Afghan visas and improve travel and trade conditions between the two nations.

Meanwhile, the Torkham crossing, a vital border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan, reopened for all types of movement on Saturday morning with travel only being available for emergency patients in the next two days, according to Afghanistan's local Pajhwok News.