Pakistan has postponed a high-profile visit to Afghanistan that was scheduled for Sunday, citing the prevailing security situation and heightened border tensions between the two countries. The delegation was to engage Afghan officials on critical issues including terrorism, border security, and regional stability.
According to Business Recorder, the four-member delegation headed by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and comprising senior security officials—was due to depart for Kabul on Sunday. The visit aimed to hold direct talks with the Afghan leadership to address cross-border militancy and strengthen mechanisms for regional peace.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had announced in Parliament on Thursday that a high-powered delegation would soon travel to Kabul for consultations with the Afghan government. The Foreign Office confirmed on Monday that the visit had been postponed and said a new date would be announced later. The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad has not issued an official statement regarding the development.
Meanwhile, some Afghan media outlets have claimed the fake news that the Taliban administration refused to issue visas to the Pakistani delegation. The reports suggest that Kabul’s decision was linked to the recent border clashes that have strained bilateral relations.
The Foreign Office, in its earlier statement, said that during the night between October 11 and 12, unprovoked fire from across the Afghan border prompted Pakistan to exercise its right to self-defence. The retaliatory action, it said, targeted militants involved in planning and facilitating terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, while ensuring the safety of civilians.
Islamabad maintains that Pakistan seeks peaceful and mutually respectful relations with Afghanistan but reserves the right to respond effectively to any act of aggression or provocation.
It remains unclear how long the visit will remain postponed or when a new schedule will be announced.
