Kabul/Islamabad — Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, has said that strengthening relations with Pakistan is vital for the prosperity of both nations, as he welcomed a visiting delegation from Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan led by senior leader Professor Muhammad Ibrahim.

The meeting, held in Kabul, reflected the Taliban government’s efforts to highlight grassroots political and religious connections between the two neighbors at a time when formal state-to-state relations remain cautious and, at times, strained.

Afghan FM Praises Pakistan’s Support

During the talks, Muttaqi described exchanges of delegations between Kabul and Islamabad as important for fostering understanding, noting that positive relations between the two countries are beneficial for both peoples.

He praised Jamaat-e-Islami’s long-standing social work in Pakistan and extended gratitude for Pakistan’s decades of hosting millions of Afghan refugees, many of whom remain in Pakistan to this day. The Afghan Foreign Minister also underlined what he called the prominent role of religious parties in shaping Pakistan’s social and political life.

His remarks appeared aimed at building on the Taliban’s historical ties with religious groups in Pakistan, which they see as key actors in bridging political divides and easing bilateral mistrust.

Delegation Highlights Shared Bonds

Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, who led the Jamaat-e-Islami delegation, stressed the closeness between the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, describing them as bound by history, culture, and faith. He praised the progress that has taken place in Afghanistan since the arrival of the Taliban, echoing the Islamic Emirate’s narrative of improved governance and security under its rule.

Other members of the delegation emphasized that better relations between Kabul and Islamabad could improve the lives of people across the border by facilitating trade, easing movement, and addressing shared challenges.

The visiting team expressed optimism that outstanding issues will be overcome if both sides prioritized dialogue and mutual respect.

Historical and Political Context

Jamaat-e-Islami, one of Pakistan’s oldest religious political parties, has long maintained ideological and political ties with Afghan Islamist movements, including during the Soviet war in the 1980s. Its support networks extended into humanitarian assistance for Afghan refugees and madrassa education, which nurtured cross-border linkages that persist today.

For the Taliban, such engagements help reinforce legitimacy in Pakistan’s political landscape beyond formal government channels, where relations have been tested by disputes over border security, trade restrictions, and militant safe havens.

The meeting also comes in the wake of renewed Pakistani pressure on the Taliban government to rein in groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), blamed for a surge in cross-border attacks. While not directly addressed in the talks, the emphasis on positive relations reflects an attempt to counter narratives of hostility.

Also See: Afghanistan Wants ‘Brotherhood, Not Hostility’ with Pakistan, Says Zabihullah Mujahid

Analysts’ Perspectives

Regional analysts say the Taliban’s outreach to Pakistani religious parties is part of a broader strategy to strengthen people-to-people and ideological ties even as official relations face obstacles.

Observers maintained that this is soft diplomacy by the Taliban, engaging parties like Jamaat-e-Islami that have historical sympathy and networks in Pakistan. It helps the Taliban counterbalance state-level tensions and cultivate goodwill at the grassroots.

Others suggest that such meetings allow the Taliban to showcase international engagement without conceding ground on contentious issues such as women’s rights, political inclusivity, or counterterrorism obligations.

Broader Implications

The visit underscores how religious and political linkages between Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to influence bilateral ties. While Islamabad and Kabul face deep disagreements over border security and militant networks, the Taliban seem to be keen to hint at Pakistan the shared Pak-Afghan Islamic and cultural identity.

By thanking Pakistan for hosting refugees and recognizing the role of religious groups, Kabul signals a desire to keep ties from deteriorating further, even as Western countries criticize the Taliban’s governance model.

For Jamaat-e-Islami, the meeting demonstrates its enduring relevance in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations and reflects its longstanding advocacy of closer ties with Kabul.

Looking Ahead

Muttaqi’s remarks about beneficial relations and the delegation’s optimism that issues will be overcome, signal cautious hope for improved cooperation. Yet whether such symbolic gestures can translate into concrete policy coordination remains to be seen.

With security, trade, and refugee management still unresolved, the Taliban’s diplomatic outreach through religious actors highlights both the opportunities and the limitations of regional engagement in Afghanistan’s evolving political landscape.