In a major diplomatic shift, Pakistan has announced that it will appoint an ambassador to Afghanistan, marking the first time Islamabad will send an envoy to Taliban-ruled Kabul since the group took over in August 2021. The announcement comes shortly after a China-hosted trilateral meeting that emphasized stronger Pakistan-Afghanistan ties.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar affirmed the move on Friday, following his meetings with his Chinese and Afghan counterparts in Beijing. The encounter was part of Beijing’s growing efforts to mediate regional cooperation in South Asia.
“I am confident this step would further contribute towards enhanced engagement and exchanges between two fraternal countries,” said Mr. Dar, lauding the “positive trajectory” in relations since a Pakistani delegation visited Kabul last month.
Pakistan Steps Up Diplomatic Relations with Kabul
Up to this point, Pakistan had been holding diplomatic relations with the Taliban at the charge d’affaires level, one notch below that of full ambassadorial relations. The latest announcement indicates Islamabad’s plan to institutionalize and deepen relations with the Taliban government.
Although Pakistan has not yet appointed an ambassador, this act makes it the fourth nation, following China, the UAE, and Uzbekistan, to appoint an ambassador to the Taliban regime. No nation has officially recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate leaders, however, despite these actions.
Diplomatists look to the posting of an ambassador as a prime marker of increasing acceptance, even if formal recognition is denied. The Taliban has yet to react to Pakistan’s statement.
China Steps Up Regional Diplomacy
China has also become a key facilitator in bridging Pakistan and Afghanistan. Last week’s trilateral meeting in Beijing saw Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also meet separately in closed-door sessions with Taliban acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Beijing was the first nation to receive an ambassador from the Taliban, although it denies having established formal relations. China declared last week that Afghanistan had agreed to take part in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project going through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
China’s efforts seem to have acquired a sense of urgency after India also conducted its first ministerial-level talks with the Taliban on May 15, when Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar sat across the table with the Afghan leadership.
Tensions Persist Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
Even after recent diplomatic gestures, relations between Islamabad and Kabul continue to be tense. Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province in December 2024 that killed close to 50 individuals. Islamabad claimed that militants were preparing to carry out attacks within Pakistan from Afghan territory.
Afghanistan forcefully denied the claim, asserting, “Handling terrorism is Pakistan’s domestic problem.” The Taliban also condemned Pakistan’s bulk deportation of Afghan refugees.
Unofficial Yet Growing Recognition
While no government has formally endorsed the Taliban regime, the sending of ambassadors by various countries indicates a slow move towards détente. Diplomatic analysts feel that this could translate to greater engagement with Kabul as global actors seek to stabilize the area.
