• A Pakistani delegation arrived in Kabul to hold talks
• The delegation is led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif
• They meet interim Afghan deputy prime minister

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani delegation arrived in Kabul to hold talks with officials of the interim Afghan government on security-related issues and counter-terrorism, the Foreign Office confirmed.

“A high-ranking delegation led by the Minister for Defence is in Kabul today to meet with officials of the Afghan Interim Government to discuss security-related matters including counter-terrorism measures,” the foreign office spokesperson said.

The delegation led by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif met with the acting deputy prime minister of Afghanistan Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

The delegation includes Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan, and Kabul mission head Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani.

A high-ranking delegation led by the Minister for Defence is in Kabul today to meet with officials of the Afghan Interim Government to discuss security related matters including counter terrorism measures.

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— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) February 22, 2023

In a separate statement, the Afghan Council of Ministers said the two sides discussed economic cooperation, regional connectivity, trade, and bilateral relations.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighbours and should have cordial relations. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants expansion of commercial and economic relations with Pakistan as such relations are in the interest of both countries,” the statement quoted Mullah Baradar as saying.

The Afghan leader also asked the officials to release Afghans being detained in detention facilities in Pakistan.

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1/5: Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, met with the Pakistani Minister of Defense, leading a high-ranking delegation. The two parties discussed economic cooperation, regional connectivity, trade, and bilateral relations pic.twitter.com/a9BbikgNa5

— د ریاست الوزراء اقتصادي معاونیت (@FDPM_AFG) February 22, 2023

Baradar further added that passengers at Torkham and Spin Boldak should be well-facilitated, with special consideration being given to emergency patients.

The statement added that Pakistani delegation assured Afghanistan of the aforementioned issues and added that the concerned ministries and appointed committees would soon work.

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