Pakistan to Appoint Ambassador to Taliban-Led Afghanistan Amid Warming Ties

Pakistan has announced plans to appoint a full ambassador to Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban seized control of Kabul in 2021, signaling a diplomatic thaw between the neighboring countries after years of tension.

Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made the announcement on Friday, stating that Pakistan would upgrade its diplomatic representation from a charge d’affaires to a full ambassador, a key step toward normalizing relations.

“This decision reflects the progress made during my recent visit to Kabul,” Dar said in a statement. “To maintain this momentum, I am pleased to announce the decision of the Government of Pakistan to upgrade the level of its charge d’affaires in Kabul to the level of ambassador.”

Pakistan becomes the fourth country to designate an ambassador to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, following China, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.

Dar’s announcement follows a trilateral meeting in Beijing last week with Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during which the three sides pledged greater regional cooperation.

The move aims to boost trade, improve economic collaboration, and advance counterterrorism efforts between Islamabad and Kabul. However, deep-rooted mistrust remains, particularly over the presence of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters in Afghan territory.

TTP, an outlawed group responsible for numerous attacks inside Pakistan, shares ideological ties with the Afghan Taliban and has grown more assertive since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Taliban government in Kabul of sheltering TTP militants—a charge the Afghan authorities have denied.

While Kabul has not yet issued an official response to Pakistan’s announcement, both sides have recently signaled readiness to improve diplomatic ties following months of hostilities and border tensions.