Latest news with #SirajuddinHaqqani
Asia News Network
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Asia News Network
Pakistan Interior Minister discusses counterterrorism in Kabul meeting with Afghan counterpart
July 21, 2025 ISLAMABAD – Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday discussed counterterrorism efforts in a meeting with his Afghan counterpart Sirajuddin Haqqani in Kabul. The visit comes after a series of steps between both nations to improve ties, such as the revival of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) and the upgrading of each country's diplomats from the rank of chargé d'affaires to ambassador. Both countries also held the inaugural round of the Additional Secretary-Level Mechanism talks earlier in the month. 'Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi holds an important meeting with his Afghan counterpart Sirajuddin Haqqani,' the Interior Ministry said in a post on X. Naqvi was warmly welcomed by interim Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani upon arrival at the Afghan Ministry of Interior, the post said. 'Discussion on bilateral relations, particularly counter-terrorism, infiltration, and the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban [Pakistan],' took place, according to the interior ministry. Effective management of the Pak-Afghan border, prevention of narcotics, and mechanisms for regulating cross-border movement were also discussed, the post said. 'Terrorist organisations are causing chaos and instability; We must stop them together,' Naqvi was quoted as having said to his counterpart. 'Pakistan has selflessly hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades; the doors are open for the legal entry of Afghan citizens,' the interior minister said. The process of repatriation of Afghan citizens illegally residing in Pakistan was also a subject of the conversation between Naqvi and Haqqani. Afghanistan's Senior Deputy Interior Minister Ibrahim Sardar, Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, Federal Interior Secretary Khurram Agha and other senior diplomatic officials were there as part of the country's delegation. Officials from the Afghan Ministry of Interior were also present on the occasion. Earlier in the day, Naqvi arrived in Kabul on a day-long visit to Afghanistan, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. On his arrival at the Kabul airport, Naqvi was received by Afghan Interim Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Nabi Omari. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities over the past year, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the proscribed TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. Earlier in the week, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan signed the Framework Agreement on the Joint Feasibility Study for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Project in Kabul. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had made the announcement in a post on X from Kabul, where he had arrived on a day-long visit for the signing. On Wednesday, the UN special representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, proposed a 'prioritised' regional dialogue with Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian states to halt the disorderly return of Afghans and uphold the principle of voluntary, dignified and safe repatriation. On Friday, security forces foiled PTV News reported.
Business Recorder
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to boost anti-terror cooperation
KABUL: Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to strengthen mutual cooperation for effective border management and the elimination of terrorism. This understanding was reached during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Afghan counterpart Sirajuddin Haqqani in Kabul on Sunday. The two leaders underscored the importance of peaceful coexistence, regional stability, and enhanced collaboration between both nations. Discussions centred on bilateral relations, with a particular focus on counterterrorism, cross-border infiltration, and the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. They also explored strategies for efficient management of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, curbing drug trafficking, and regulating cross-border movement. Besides, the repatriation process of Afghan nationals residing illegally in Pakistan was another key topic of discussion. Speaking on the occasion, Mohsin Naqvi stressed that terrorist organizations are fueling unrest and instability, and that both countries must work together to eliminate such threats. He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to fostering fraternal and enduring relations with Afghanistan. He also highlighted Pakistan's decades-long hospitality towards millions of Afghan refugees, noting that the country's doors remain open for Afghan citizens arriving through legal channels. Earlier, upon his arrival at the Afghan Ministry of Interior, Mohsin Naqvi received a warm welcome from Sirajuddin Haqqani. The meeting was also attended by Afghanistan's Senior Deputy Interior Minister Ibrahim Sardar, Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, Federal Secretary for Interior Khurram Agha, and other high-ranking officials.
Arab News
20-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistani interior minister in Kabul on day-long visit amid thaw in ties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday arrived in Kabul to meet his Afghan counterpart on a day-long visit, the Pakistani interior ministry said, amid a thaw in relations between the two neighbors. The visit comes more than a week after Pakistani and Afghan officials held an inaugural round of the additional secretary-level talks in Islamabad to discuss trade, visas, security, connectivity and refugee issues. It followed a meeting of the Pakistani, Afghan and Chinese foreign ministers in Beijing and the upgradation of Pakistan-Afghanistan diplomatic relations to the ambassador's rank. Pakistan and Afghanistan have had rocky relations mainly due to a spike in militancy in Pakistan's western regions that border Afghanistan, following the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021. Islamabad says anti-Pakistan militants carry out cross-border attacks using safe havens in Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies. Another source of tension has been Pakistan's drive to expel Afghans, which first began in Nov. 2023. Upon arrival at the Kabul airport, Interior Minister Naqvi was received by Afghan Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Nabi Omari and other senior officials, the Pakistani interior ministry said. 'Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will meet his Afghan counterpart Sirajuddin Haqqani,' it said, without elaborating on the agenda of the meeting. 'Interior Secretary Khurram Agha and senior officials are accompanying him.' This month's additional secretary-level talks in Islamabad came in follow up of the decisions reached during the visit of Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul in April, according to the Pakistani foreign office. 'Both sides recognized terrorism as a serious threat to regional peace and security. The Pakistani side emphasized the need for concrete actions against terrorist groups operating on Afghan soil, noting that such groups undermine Pakistan's security and hinder regional development,' the Pakistani foreign ministry said. 'The two sides exchanged views on deepening trade and transit cooperation. They reviewed the implementation status of measures announced during the visit of Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan to Kabul for facilitating Afghan transit trade, including the removal of a 10 percent processing fee, provision of an insurance guarantee, reduction in scanning and examination, and operationalization of the track and trace system.' The Pakistani side was led by Additional Secretary for Afghanistan and West Asia, Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani, while the Afghan side was led by Director-General of the First Political Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor. They underlined the importance of enhanced regional connectivity as a catalyst for sustainable growth and shared prosperity. Afghanistan's foreign ministry said the two sides stressed the need to resolve the 'issues of Afghan prisoners and refugees in Pakistan and facilitate the provision of visas to Afghan patients and businessmen.' Pakistan this year said it wanted 3 million Afghans to leave the country, including 1.4 million people with Proof of Registration cards and some 800,000 with Afghan Citizen Cards. There are a further 1 million Afghans in the country illegally because they have no paperwork, according to officials. 'Pakistan side shared an overview of its efforts to facilitate documented travel from Afghanistan, notably through the issuance of over 500,000 visas since January 2024 to date across a range of categories such as medical, tourist, business, and study. Both sides agreed to work together to further strengthen the legal movement of individuals across borders,' Islamabad's foreign ministry said. Both sides assured of continued mutual communication and cooperation to address current challenges and described security as important for regional development and further strengthening bilateral relations, according to the two foreign ministries.
The National
27-05-2025
- Business
- The National
UAE official meets Afghanistan's new consul general to Dubai
A senior UAE official underlined the importance of bilateral ties with Afghanistan after holding talks with Abdul Rahman Fida, the country's new consul general to Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti Al Maktoum, director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office in Dubai, on Tuesday received the consular credentials of the envoy at an official meeting. Sheikh Maktoum welcomed the consul general and congratulated him on his appointment during discussions held at the ministry's Dubai office, state news agency Wam reported. He wished Mr Fida success in his duties and commended the strong political, economic, commercial and investment ties between the nations. The meeting underscored the UAE's commitment to bolstering links with Afghanistan and supporting its future development. In January, President Sheikh Mohamed received Sirajuddin Haqqani, Afghanistan's Minister of the Interior, at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi. They reviewed efforts to support Afghanistan's reconstruction and stability, seeking to foster development and prosperity for the Afghan people. Mr Haqqani also commended the UAE's humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Enemy's enemy
With tensions rising along the India-Pakistan border after the Pahalgam terror attack and in anticipation of a possible military-security response by New Delhi, GOI is making some smart tactical moves with Taliban in Afghanistan. New Delhi has reached out to Kabul to highlight Islamabad's links with the Pahalgam attack, prompting the Taliban regime to offer condemnation of the heinous killings and call for action against the perpetrators. This should have the Pakistani generals in Rawalpindi GHQ worried. After all, the Pakistani ISI-military establishment has long fretted an Indian strategic pincer assault from both its eastern and western wings. And with Islamabad having a tough time with Kabul after Taliban's return in 2021 – thanks to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan insurgency – a tactical convergence between India and Afghanistan will put Pakistan under tremendous pressure. This is exactly the reason the Pakistani establishment over decades has tried to cultivate Afghanistan as strategic depth in the event of conflict with India. That in turn subverted Afghanistan's aspirations and stymied its development. Plus, there are some differences between the current Taliban regime and its previous avatar. The latter was isolationist whereas the former has been actively seeking foreign investments and, to a limited degree, even tourism. In other words, Taliban 2.0 knows that it can't be a carbon copy of its earlier version. Nor can it have the same relationship with Pakistan as before. That said, some things continue to be problematic like the ban on secondary and higher education for Afghan girls and the bar on Afghan women from working. Also, Taliban is not a monolith. There are different factions and some continue to work with Pakistani agencies. Add to this the haunting memories for India of the IC 814 hijacking. Therefore, the challenge for New Delhi is to find the right people in Taliban to work with. Interestingly, US last month lifted its $10mn bounty on Sirajuddin Haqqani, Taliban's interim interior minister and once a huge thorn in the side of the US military. Hence, it's clear that even Washington is resetting its approach to key members of the Taliban regime. India and US should coordinate in this regard to promote stability and incentivise reforms in Afghanistan. A step-by-step approach that prioritises mutual interests between New Delhi and Kabul is the need of the hour. Pakistan must be made to sweat by strategically outflanking it from the west. This should also give pause to ISI's recently revived anti-India shenanigans in Bangladesh. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
