Pakistan's Special Representative Visits Afghanistan Amid Political and Border Tensions

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: Mohammad Sadiq Khan has traveled to Kabul at the head of a delegation and is scheduled to meet with Islamic Emirate officials. This is his second visit to Kabul in less than three months. The visit comes a day after the reopening of the Torkham border crossing, which was previously closed due to escalating border disputes and exchange of fire between border guards from the two countries.

 

Since the Islamic Emirate came to power in the summer of 1400 AH, especially after the failure of the negotiations between the Islamabad government and the Pakistani Taliban, mediated by the Islamic Emirate, attacks by opposition groups in the country have increased.

 

Islamabad has always accused its northern neighbor of inaction in the fight against terrorism, especially the anti-Pakistan forces known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and emphasizes that the Pakistani Taliban freely move around Afghan soil and carry out attacks against Pakistan; an accusation that the previous governments and the Islamic Emirate reject.

 

Calling the Pakistani side’s accusations “incorrect,” the Islamic Emirate has called on Islamabad to seek solutions to its problems internally instead of accusing its neighbors.

 

Mohammad Sadiq’s visit to Kabul comes at a time when Pakistan and Afghanistan have witnessed increased border tensions, especially at the Torkham crossing. The closure of this border due to border clashes and mutual accusations about the presence of militants has had a negative impact on trade and movement of citizens of the two countries. Therefore, one of the main objectives of this visit is to resolve border disputes and develop solutions for the sustainable management of shared crossings.

 

One of the main reasons for Islamabad’s dissatisfaction with Kabul is the activities of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) group on Afghan soil. Islamabad has repeatedly claimed that the group uses safe havens in Afghanistan to carry out attacks in Pakistan. While the Islamic Emirate denies these allegations, the visit of the Pakistani representative could serve as a diplomatic pressure to confront the group. In contrast, Kabul officials have always emphasized that Pakistan should solve its security problems within its borders and should not blame others.

 

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are influenced by regional players including China, Iran and the United States. China, which has invested in joint economic projects with Pakistan, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is interested in maintaining border stability between the two countries. On the other hand, the new US policies towards Afghanistan and the Islamic Emirate's relations with Iran are also affecting the interactions between Islamabad and Kabul. Mohammad Sadiq's visit could be a sign of Pakistan's efforts to maintain a balance in its regional interactions.

 

The Pakistani government is also facing internal differences in its policy towards Afghanistan. Some military and security officials are calling for a more decisive approach to the Islamic Emirate, while others believe that diplomatic and economic engagement with Kabul could be in Islamabad's interest. Mohammad Sadiq's visit to Kabul can be seen as part of the Pakistani government's efforts to adopt a balanced approach towards Afghanistan.

 

Although the visit of the Pakistani representative indicates a willingness to negotiate and resolve some differences, it seems that the fundamental differences between the two countries will remain. The Durand Line issue, TTP attacks, and the foreign policies of the Islamic Emirate remain among the most important challenges in relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

 

Ultimately, this trip could be an opportunity to improve relations, but its success will depend on practical steps taken by both sides in the security and economic fields.