Pakistan’s Cabinet will hold discussions to decide on recognizing a future Taliban-led government in Kabul, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said. Earlier during a meeting of the National Security Council, the government decided against instantly recognizing the Taliban government, calling for a more inclusive setup.

The Taliban toppled the US-backed Afghan government last week in an intense ten-day-long offensive, resulting in the capitulation of Afghan security forces. The pace and intensity of the Taliban march not only caught the world powers off guard but also shocked millions of Afghans who saw the quick meltdown of the democratically elected government.

Speaking at a press conference, Rashid said that only a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was in the interest of Pakistan.

“We are advocates of peace and we will not allow our land to be used against any other country. At the same time, we will not allow any other’s land to be used against us,” he was quoted as saying by Dawn. 

He also said Torkham and Chaman, the two most important border crossings, are stable and open for trade and transit. The bilateral trade, which suffered a heavy blow earlier, is now picking pace. 

The minister said on the directives of the prime minister, visas on arrival would be issued to those coming from Afghanistan. Pakistan has been helping in the evacuation of foreign diplomats from Afghanistan. He informed that the country had brought around 900 diplomats from Afghanistan to Pakistan for safe evacuation. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a phone call to his Pakistani counterpart Shafi Mohammed Qureshi earlier this week, stressed developing a “regional consensus on the evolving situation in Afghanistan.” Yi would be undertaking visits to various countries in the region in the coming days to discuss the issue, Rashid said on Wednesday.

Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, and Tajikistan are keeping their embassies open in Kabul, signaling a wait-and-see attitude towards the transitional Afghan dispensation.  

(SAM)