Formal contact has been re-established between Pakistan and the Afghan interim government in Doha.
The Afghan delegation, attending the United Nations-sponsored Afghan conference, met with the Pakistani delegation following initial discussions with the Indian delegation on the first day.
This renewed interaction aims to discuss regional stability and cooperation. The meeting took place at the residence of the Pakistani ambassador to Qatar. In his remarks, the Pakistani ambassador emphasized the commonalities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, underscoring the strong desire for peace on both sides.
Sources indicated that the meeting between the Pakistani and Afghan delegations was positive. The Afghan delegation expressed gratitude to Pakistan for supporting Afghanistan’s stance at the conference and appreciated the public support extended by Pakistan.
The head of the Pakistani delegation, Asif Durrani, and the spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid, attended the meeting.
However, the UN clarified that holding talks with the Taliban does not imply recognition. “This is not a meeting about recognition. This is not a meeting to lead to recognition … Having engagement doesn’t mean recognition,” DiCarlo told reporters.
“This isn’t about the Taliban. This is about Afghanistan and its people.”
