In a significant diplomatic move, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani met with his Afghan counterpart, Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, in Tibet. The meeting aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and fostering regional cooperation amidst prevailing challenges. Minister Jilani reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fortify ties with Afghanistan and underscored the need for mutual collaboration to address shared concerns.
During the discussions, Minister Jilani emphasized the importance of addressing regional security challenges through social wisdom and practical cooperation. He stressed the significance of mutual collaboration to overcome prevailing challenges, especially focusing on regional stability and security.
Addressing concerns about Afghan migrants residing in Pakistan, the spokesperson for the Foreign Office, Ms. Moomtaz Zahra Baloch, clarified in a press briefing on Thursday that there have been no changes in the national policy regarding Afghan immigrants. She highlighted that their safe repatriation remains a separate issue, distinct from Afghan transit trade.
“Pakistan’s actions are directed not only against Afghan migrants but also all illegal residents. We are in contact with the Afghan transitional government, aiming to curb the misuse of Afghan transit trade, not against it,” she stated.
Ms. Baloch further asserted that while India remains engaged in anti-Pakistan propaganda, Pakistan, as the host country for the ICC World Cup, has communicated with Indian authorities to facilitate Pakistani journalists and spectators who wish to attend the event. The Pakistani government has urged Indian officials to issue visas to these individuals promptly.
She concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to address the issue of illegal immigrants through ongoing dialogue with the Afghan transitional government, ensuring a coordinated and lawful approach to the matter.
