The Pakistani Foreign Minister announces his country's readiness to appoint an ambassador to Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, announced today that his country will appoint an ambassador to Afghanistan, the first since the Taliban government took power in 2021, signaling an elevation in diplomatic relations and a reduction in tensions between the two neighbors. Currently, the top envoys of both Pakistan and Afghanistan to each other are serving as chargés d'affaires, a lower rank than ambassador. Pakistan has not yet revealed the identity of its ambassadorial candidate. Qureshi stated that bilateral relations have been on a positive trajectory since his visit to Kabul with a Pakistani delegation last month, expressing confidence that this step will further enhance communication. The Afghan Foreign Ministry and the acting Taliban government in Islamabad have not responded to requests for comments. China, after hosting an informal meeting last week between the Pakistani government and the Afghan Taliban administration, stated that both countries intend to elevate their diplomatic relations. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained following the Taliban's assumption of power after the withdrawal of NATO forces led by the United States.