akistan has upgraded its diplomatic representation in Afghanistan by appointing its chargé d’affaires in Kabul as ambassador. This marks a significant step in improving diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar made the announcement on the social media platform X (previously Twitter), following what he described as a “very productive” visit to Kabul.

“Pakistan-Afghanistan relations are on a positive trajectory,” Dar stated. “I am confident that this step will contribute to enhanced engagement; deepen Pak-Afghan cooperation in economic, security, counter-terrorism and trade areas; and promote further exchanges between the two fraternal countries.”

Although both nations maintain embassies in each other’s capitals, they had until recently been headed by chargés d’affaires rather than ambassadors. The decision to appoint ambassadors signals a new phase in formal diplomatic engagement.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2,500-kilometre border with several crossing points that are crucial to regional trade and people-to-people connectivity. However passenger flights between the two are limited.

Security remains a major concern for Islamabad. It has repeatedly urged Kabul in recent years to ensure that Afghan territory is not used to launch attacks inside Pakistan.

In a notable development earlier this month, a senior Taliban commander, Saeedullah Saeed, publicly warned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan against attacking Pakistani forces or carrying out militancy in the name of jihad.

China hosted an informal meeting in early May with representatives from Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghan administration. Following the talks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that Afghanistan and Pakistan had agreed in principle to appoint ambassadors “as soon as possible.”

Yi held separate meetings with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar. The three sides reaffirmed their commitment to extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into Afghanistan, emphasising enhanced regional connectivity and economic cooperation.

Key outcomes of the Beijing round of talks included commitments to greater security and counter-terrorism cooperation, joint action against militant threats and resumption of trilateral dialogue. There are plans to convene the sixth China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue in Kabul.

Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul appeared to have eased following Dar’s rare visit to the Afghan capital last month, where both sides addressed contentious issues—including the mass deportation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan. The two foreign ministers agreed to continue the dialogue in a constructive and positive atmosphere, with a focus on security, trade, transit cooperation and broader bilateral ties.

China hosted an informal trilateral meeting in early May with representatives of Pakistan and the Taliban-led Afghan administration. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi then announced that Afghanistan and Pakistan had agreed in principle to appoint ambassadors “as soon as possible.”

In response to Pakistan’s decision, Zakir Jalali, the second director of Political Affairs at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that the Islamic Emirate was elevating its diplomatic representation in Islamabad.

“With the elevation of the Pakistani diplomatic mission in Kabul to ambassadorial level, the Islamic Emirate will likewise elevate its chargé d’affaires in Islamabad to ambassador,” Jalali stated.

“Afghanistan and Pakistan are neighboring countries that share many commonalities as well as challenges in their bilateral relations. Through diplomacy and tact, these relations are moving in a positive direction,” he added.

Jalali also highlighted the importance of Dar’s visit to Kabul and the official invitation extended to Muttaqi to visit Islamabad. He called these steps “positive gestures” towards sustained engagement between the two countries.

“Once, Pakistan and Afghanistan were on the verge of an all-out confrontation, trading serious allegations of harbouring terrorism. Bilateral ties had plunged low in recent years,” Jalali noted. “However, with China’s key role and effective backchannel diplomacy, both sides have managed to revive the stalled diplomatic engagement. The move to upgrade the diplomatic missions—though largely symbolic—is a strong signal that things are moving in the right direction.”

Aftab Khan Sherpao, a veteran politician and former member of Pak-Afghan Loye Jirga wrote on X: “The elevation of diplomatic ties with Afghanistan to the ambassadorial level marks a significant step forward. China’s proactive role in facilitating the dialogue, its commitment to extending the Belt and Road Initiative into Afghanistan, and the collective pledge by all parties to disallow use of their territory for terrorist activities are strong indicators of a renewed regional commitment to peace, stability and shared prosperity.”

Border tensions at Torkham and Chaman, besides the deportation of undocumented Afghan citizens, have widened the rift between the two countries. Haq Nawaz Khan, an analyst of Afghan affairs, described the development as a “diplomatic achievement.”

“The Afghan Taliban’s clear stance discouraging Afghans from engaging in militant activities in the neighbouring country is another major development that has followed a series of high-level interactions between the two sides,” he said. “There is still a long way to go, as the situation remains complex, but such efforts will help bridge the trust deficit.”

He added that the visit by a high-level Pakistani delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Dar, followed by the trilateral meeting in Beijing, had brought the two neighbours closer.

“Mr Dar termed his visit to Kabul as ‘highly productive.’ The decisions made in recent high-level meetings should now be implemented in letter and spirit,” Haq Nawaz Khan added.

The writer is a multimedia producer. He tweets@daudpasaney