Special Representative for Afghanistan Sadiq Khan landed in Kabul on a one-day visit on Wednesday to hold a meeting of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee.
The meeting has been confirmed by the Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Afghan Interim Government. Mujahid said that Deputy Minister for Defence Mullah Abdul Qayum Zakir will lead the Afghan delegation.
“JCC meeting is being held after a long gap,” Sadiq posted on X.
This will be the second round of JCC talks which have been in limbo since January 2024. The JCC is a mechanism created by the two countries to improve bilateral cooperation and settle border disputes.
Simultaneously, a delegation led by Afghanistan’s Minister for Industry and Commerce Noor Uddin Azizi will visit Pakistan today for talks. The delegation led by Azizi will include representatives from offices of the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, foreign affairs, finance, refugee Affairs, transport and civil aviation, agriculture, irrigation and livestock. The delegation also includes members the Investment Facilitation Directorate as well as the private sector.
In an unusual development, Afghan Consul General Hafiz Muhib will address a press conference later today.
The JCC meeting comes at a time when several new developments are taking place in the Pak-Afghan relationship.
The Torkham border was opened in March after a closure of almost a month after extensive engagements by both sides. Meanwhile, Pakistan has continued to state that terrorists operating in Pakistan including those belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Baloch Liberation Army are enjoying safe havens in Afghanistan.
Pakistan also began the second phase of deporting Afghan refugees from the country in April. Thousands of refugees, including those who had no documentation and those holding Afghan Citizen Cards, have been deported so far. The federal government has also announced that Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration cards will also be deported after June.
Sadiq Khan, who is leading the delegation to Kabul, recently said that the issue of TTP would have to be resolved for relations with Afghanistan to go forward.
