ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Kabul for a one-day official visit on Saturday with a message of peace and cooperation.
He was welcomed at the airport by the dignitaries of 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, Dar along with a high-level delegation consisting of Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Sadiq Khan, Special Assistant of Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries for commerce, railways and interior, as well as other senior officials left for Kabul from Noor Khan Airbase.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, before departing for Kabul, underlined the need to rebuild Pakistan’s ties with Afghanistan, calling for stronger cooperation between the two neighbouring Muslim nations.
Speaking to the media at Noor Khan Air Base, Dar said he was travelling with a message of goodwill and would make efforts to bring the two countries closer. “We must work together for economic development and the welfare of our people,” he said.
He emphasised that Pakistan and Afghanistan have shared historic and cultural ties. “Our relationship has always been like that of two brothers — it should continue that way,” he added.
Dar admitted that relations had cooled in recent years, mainly 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 factors have created distance in recent times,” he said.
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Despite tensions, he remained hopeful about improving trade and economic ties. “There are vast opportunities between both countries. A rail link through Afghanistan can connect us to Central Asia,” he pointed out, adding that the plan hinges on Afghanistan establishing its own railway department.
He regretted that the current potential for economic cooperation was far from being fully tapped.
Dar is expected to meet Afghanistan’s top officials during the visit, with talks focused on regional stability, trade, and bilateral relations.