Pak, Afghan leaders discuss security, deportation issues

Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday mutually agreed to further their commitment to fortify bilateral relations and continue the latest series of engagements to address mutual concerns in important areas of security, connectivity and trade.

- Agencies

The agreement was reaffirmed during the day-long visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul - the first of its kind by a high-level official of the Pakistan government following multiple bilateral diplomatic engagements between both neighbours.

During the visit, Dar had a one-on-one meeting with with Afghan Taliban officials, including Prime Minister Hasan Akhund and Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, in which both sides expressed their desire to de-escalate tensions and make space for bilateral cooperation in various sectors that are mutually beneficial.

Both sides agreed that a sustained high-level engagement is the only way to address critical concerns, find solutions to the problems and cooperate with each other to negate misunderstandings.

Sources said that the meeting between Dar and Muttaqi yielded fruitful results as both sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues.

Both sides maintained focus on regional trade, people-to-people contact and importantly border management.