ISLAMABAD, July 7, 2025 (WNP): Pakistan and Afghanistan on Monday held the first round of Additional Secretary-Level talks in Islamabad, aiming to enhance bilateral cooperation in key areas including trade, transit, security, and regional connectivity.

The meeting was held in line with the decisions made during the visit of Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar to Kabul on April 19, 2025.

The Pakistani delegation was led by Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani, Additional Secretary for Afghanistan and West Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Afghan side was headed by Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor, Director General of the First Political Division at Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry.

During the dialogue, both sides acknowledged terrorism as a serious threat to regional peace and stability. The Pakistani delegation urged Kabul to take “concrete and verifiable” actions against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, emphasizing that such elements continue to pose grave risks to Pakistan’s national security and the broader region.

The two delegations also discussed strengthening trade and transit ties, reviewing progress on several facilitative measures agreed upon during the April visit. These included removal of the 10% processing fee on Afghan transit goods, reduction in customs scanning and examination, issuance of insurance guarantees, and the operationalization of a track-and-trace system to streamline cross-border trade.

On regional connectivity, both sides recognized the transformative potential of infrastructure projects such as the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway. They agreed to expedite the finalization of the Framework Agreement to unlock new economic opportunities and strengthen regional integration.

The issue of Afghan nationals in Pakistan also featured prominently in the discussions. The Pakistani side shared data showing the issuance of over 500,000 visas to Afghan citizens since January 2024, covering various categories including medical, business, education, and tourism. Both sides agreed on the need to further strengthen legal and regulated cross-border movement.

At the conclusion of the talks, Mufti Noor Ahmad Noor called on Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch. The Foreign Secretary underscored the importance of sustained institutional engagement to address mutual concerns, strengthen bilateral ties, and promote regional peace and prosperity.

Meanwhile, speaking to a private television channel, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif reiterated Pakistan’s stance on the repatriation of Afghan nationals. He said that while Pakistan values its diplomatic ties with Afghanistan, the presence of a large undocumented Afghan population was becoming a burden on the national economy.

“Afghanistan is a sovereign and peaceful country now. Afghan citizens should return home. Many of them are engaged in illegal economic activities here,” he said. The Minister added that Pakistan’s security forces have made tremendous sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and called on Afghan authorities to ensure that their territory is not used to threaten Pakistan’s security.

He also criticized the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for politicizing security issues, urging him to focus on governance rather than targeting national institutions.

The next round of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Additional Secretary-Level talks will be held on mutually agreed dates.