ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to visit Kabul on April 19 and Dhaka on April 22, in what officials are describing as a significant step forward in Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with both countries, sources confirmed on Thursday.
Dar’s trip to Kabul will mark the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Afghanistan in three years—the last being in October 2021 following the Taliban’s return to power. His visit is seen as a positive shift in a relationship that has been strained, largely due to Kabul’s inaction on Islamabad’s security concerns.
Earlier this week, a breakthrough appeared likely when a Pakistani delegation, led by Special Envoy on Afghanistan Muhammad Sadiq Khan, held a crucial session of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) in Kabul—the first such meeting in 15 months. Sources revealed that for the first time, the Afghan Taliban government demonstrated a serious willingness to address Pakistan’s concerns regarding the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), paving the way for Dar’s visit.
Ambassador Sadiq confirmed the renewed momentum in ties, stating on X (formerly Twitter), “In a welcome development, high-level bilateral engagements with Afghanistan have resumed after a long hiatus.”
He added that Pakistan, in collaboration with Afghanistan, is now looking to revive several regional mechanisms, including the Immediate Neighbours+Russia Format, the Pakistan-China Trilateral, the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Trilateral, and the Pakistan-Iran Trilateral.
“In this context,” Sadiq said, “I held a virtual meeting with China’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mr. Yue Xiaoyong, to explore restarting the trilateral process and following up on previous discussions. This proposal will be discussed with the Afghan government soon.”
Following his Kabul trip, Dar will head to Dhaka on April 22—marking the first visit by a Pakistani foreign minister to Bangladesh since 2012. The visit underscores strengthening relations between Islamabad and Dhaka.
Ahead of Dar’s arrival, both countries resumed political consultations after a 15-year pause. “The 6th round of Foreign Secretary Level Consultations took place in Dhaka today after a hiatus of 15 years,” read an official statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
