“Pakistan does not want to close down its embassy in Kabul”: Foreign Office

The Foreign Office (FO) has on Sunday said that it has not decided to close down the embassy in Kabul and is monitoring the ongoing situation in Afghanistan.

According to the FO spokesperson, all security measures have been taken for diplomatic staff in the Pakistan embassy and relief is being provided to Pakistanis currently stranded in the country.

“The situation in Afghanistan is changing at a rapid pace,” he said.

“Pakistan has always desired peace in the neighbouring country and hoped that the security situation should not deteriorate.”

The foreign office said that Pakistan does not want to close down its embassy in Kabul.

The statement from Foreign Office came after it was reported that the Taliban have begun entering the Afghan capital Kabul from all sides, the Afghan interior ministry said on Sunday.

Taliban Say They Will Not Take Kabul “By Force”

The Afghan Taliban fighters have arrived at Kabul’s surrounding areas but have not yet entered the city, confirmed the authorities on Sunday.

The Taliban, however, announced that they did not intend to take the city via force.

“Negotiations are underway to ensure that the transition process is completed safely and securely, without compromising the lives, property and honour of anyone, and without compromising the lives of Kabulis,” it said.

“The Islamic Emirate instructs all its forces to stand at the gates of Kabul, not to try to enter the city,” a spokesman for the Taliban tweeted.

Pakistan Shuts Torkham Border After Taliban Seize Border Crossing

The Pakistan government has Sunday ordered to shut the Torkham border with Afghanistan after Taliban fighters took over control of the border posts in Afghan territory.

Reports said that the rebels took positions on the posts after Afghan border forces laid down their arms before them.

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