Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who primarily has economic and financial expertise, has visited Kabul three times in the past two months.
His upcoming visit on August 20 represents an attempt to open a new chapter in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.
This effort appears unlike ordinary diplomatic visits, as the frequency of trips, sensitivity of topics, and regional political conditions indicate urgency, pressure, and a possible new agreement.
In diplomatic relations, frequent visits at short intervals indicate either a new problem requiring urgent resolution or the deadline for finalizing an important deal has arrived.
Dar’s three visits in two months demonstrate Islamabad’s attempt to accelerate discussions with Kabul.
Pakistan may be finalizing a security or economic agreement, or conveying messages from regional and international players to present their official positions without difficult conversations.
The trilateral meeting between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and China forms part of the official agenda.
China is interested in economic corridors, mineral resources, and regional security projects in Afghanistan.
Pakistan wants to enter a new framework of relations with Kabul through this trilateral cooperation.
Dar’s consecutive visits aren’t ordinary diplomatic courtesy but a calculated game of pressure and opportunity involving China’s economic initiatives, Western political pressure, and Pakistan’s security demands.
