ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reached Kabul today on a day-long visit to hold bilateral talks with the interim Taliban government.

Visuals shared by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf showed that DG ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed is also accompanying Pakistan’s top diplomat on the trip.

وزیر خارجہ مخدوم شاہ محمود قریشی ایک اعلیٰ سطحی وفد کے ہمراہ افغانستان کے ایک روزہ دورے پر کابل پہنچ گئے۔ @SMQureshiPTI pic.twitter.com/SwlSgbDnIF

— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 21, 2021

The foreign minister is scheduled to meet Afghanistan’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and other Afghan leaders in the Afghan capital.

“The talks between the two sides will cover the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and focus on ways and means to deepen cooperation in diverse areas. Utilising the opportunity, the foreign minister will share Pakistan’s perspective on issues of regional peace and stability,” read a Foreign Office (FO) statement.

According to the FO, the visit is a reflection of Pakistan’s “consistent policy of supporting” the Afghan people, deepening bilateral trade and economic relations, and facilitating closer people-to-people contacts.

Pakistan, as a neighbour, has always stood by Afghanistan. It reminded that Pakistan kept the border crossings between the two countries open for trade and pedestrian crossing despite Covid-19, the FO reminded.

“Facilitative visa regime for Afghan nationals and border crossing procedures for trade and cargo have been instituted. In recent months, Pakistan has provided humanitarian aid and assistance in the form of foodstuffs and medicines,” the statement added.