ISLAMABAD: The Taliban have appointed their diplomatic staff at Afghanistan’s embassy in Islamabad and Afghan consulates in other Pakistani cities, the Pakistani foreign office confirmed on Friday.
The development comes two months after the Taliban took over the presidential palace in Kabul after toppling the United States-backed government of former president Ashraf Ghani.
They have since announced their own government, but a cash crunch and food shortages have pushed the country to the brink of a humanitarian crisis.
Pakistan has been calling the international community to engage with the new Afghan government, but has itself shied away from openly recognizing the Taliban regime.
“With regard to appointment of new staff in the Afghan Embassy, this is an administrative matter and is meant to enable the embassy to perform its functions, primarily the consular functions, as you are aware there are millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and there are visa issues as well,” a spokesperson for the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“So, this has to be seen in that context. I understand they have made similar appointments in their embassies in some other countries.”
Earlier this week, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Afghanistan was moving toward political stability, though he reiterated that Kabul should have a more inclusive political setup.
Qureshi made the comment while addressing the second ministerial meeting of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries in Tehran.
The diplomatic forum was established after international forces pulled out of the war-battered country in August, bringing together regional players to evaluate the situation and devise a coordinated strategy.
Qureshi pointed out that Afghanistan was experiencing a “severe economic crisis,” adding that the international community must remain positively engaged to prevent another humanitarian disaster in the region.
He maintained it was important for Afghanistan’s neighbors to have continued consultations for a unified approach for stability, economic development and greater connectivity in the region.
