Hina Rabbani Khar visits Afghanistan, meets Taliban leaders

Hina Rabbani Khar is the first female world leader to visit Kabul after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August last year and the first Pakistani minister to visit after the formation of Shehbaz Sharif’s coalition government in Pakistan in April this year.

Hina Rabbani’s visit comes as the United Nations last week described the Taliban’s restrictions on women as potentially tantamount to “crimes against humanity”. And no country in the world, including Pakistan, has yet officially recognized the Taliban government.

After the Pakistani leader’s one-day visit on Tuesday, Hafiz Zia Ahmad, deputy spokesman of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement on Twitter that the parties have agreed to find positive and constructive solutions to resolve the issues. He further said that issues related to the release of Afghan prisoners in Pakistan, passenger facilities in cross-border transport, trade and progress in the corridor were discussed.

Hafiz Zia Ahmed wrote, “Pakistani side has promised good treatment of Afghan refugees, resolution of problems in cross-border transportation and issuance of visas. And both sides have taken positive and productive steps to solve the problems.” Also agreed.”

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar met Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Shahabuddin and Minister of Commerce Haji Nooruddin Azizi.

In the meeting with the Afghan Acting Foreign Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, there was also a discussion regarding the attacks on the Pakistani border from Afghanistan and the Taliban movement. Pakistan says that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan uses Afghan territory, which the Afghan Taliban denies.

Hafiz Zia Ahmed, Deputy Spokesperson of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that Foreign Minister Muttaqi described the relations between the two neighboring countries as important for the people and the region. He also expressed willingness to make progress on Tapi gas pipeline and railway lines and other projects.

In a statement issued by the Taliban government regarding Hina Rabbani Khar’s visit, it is said, “Pakistan and Afghanistan are Muslim neighbors, they share cultural similarities and both governments should cooperate with each other to protect mutual interests.” “

According to the statement issued by the Pakistani Foreign Office, in a meeting with the Afghan delegation, Minister of State Hina Rabbani urged the international community to deal with the serious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the challenges of reconstruction and socio-economic development. liaise practically with the Transitional Afghan Government to deal with it. He also stressed that unfreezing Afghanistan’s financial assets would help in this end.

The statement issued by the Pakistani Foreign Office further stated that during the meetings of Minister of State Hanarbani Khar in Kabul, cooperation in education, health, agriculture, trade and investment, regional relations, people-to-people relations and socio-economic projects were discussed. Various issues of common interest were discussed including

The statement said that the Minister of State reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful, stable, prosperous and integrated Afghanistan. He also reiterated Pakistan’s determination to deepen and strengthen the multi-faceted relationship between the two countries and establish a sustainable partnership for common prosperity.

Hina Rabbani Khar also met the representatives of Women Chamber of Commerce in Kabul. He emphasized the important role of women in Afghan society and expressed Pakistan’s desire to strengthen ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s business women. He announced that Pakistan would give special priority to the import of products made by Afghan women.