ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan reported “notable progress” in the first round of additional secretary-level bilateral talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
Pakistan’s delegation was led by Ambassador Ali Asad Gillani, while Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor headed the Afghan team.
In a joint statement, both sides identified terrorism as a grave threat to regional peace, security, and development, agreeing on the need for closer cooperation to combat it. Pakistan also underscored the importance of effective measures against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory.
The discussions covered a broad range of bilateral issues, including trade, transit, security, and ways to strengthen overall relations. Both delegations also addressed the facilitation of legal cross-border movement and the return of Afghan nationals.
Pakistan highlighted its efforts to support Afghan citizens, revealing that over 500,000 visas for medical, tourism, business, and education purposes had been issued since January 2024.
Talks also focused on improving Afghan transit trade, with Pakistan sharing measures such as the suspension of the 10% fee, relaxation of insurance guarantees, and a streamlined scanning process at ports.
Both countries emphasized the importance of regional connectivity for sustainable development and prosperity, agreeing to expedite the finalization of the framework agreement for the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Uzbekistan railway project.
According to the statement, the next round of talks will be scheduled on a mutually agreed date.
