Post by : Rameen Ariff

Islamabad – Pakistan’s Defence and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has characterised the 2021 trip to Kabul by the country’s then-ISI head as a "costly cup of tea," arguing the gesture helped sow the seeds of current security challenges. Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday, Dar said the event, which followed the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, should inform Pakistan’s future diplomatic choices.

Dar tied the Kabul meeting to an influx of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters and other extremists moving from Afghanistan into Pakistan, blaming the episode for a rise in terrorist incidents. While he did not explicitly name General Faiz Hameed, Dar criticised the previous administration for actions that, he said, enabled released militants and Taliban elements to re-enter Pakistani territory.

“We have conducted so much engagement that, when we visit, we say it’s just for a cup of tea... God willing, may hardships ease, but that cup of tea cost us dearly,” Dar remarked. He argued the visit effectively reopened cross-border movement and facilitated the return of fighters linked to past violence against Pakistan.

Dar also outlined continuing worries about strikes originating across the border and said Islamabad had sought repeated phone contact with Afghan authorities. He claimed to have phoned Afghan acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi six times urging that Afghan soil not be used for attacks. Afghan officials, however, described their exchanges as cooperative communications meant to build mutual understanding.

The comments arrive ahead of planned security talks in Istanbul on November 6, intended to strengthen cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The meeting follows recent cross-border airstrikes and counterattacks that have escalated tensions between the neighbours.

Reiterating earlier criticism of the 2021 Kabul visit, Dar said Pakistan continues to pay a price for what he called a largely symbolic diplomatic gesture. Pakistani officials, he added, now view that episode as a cautionary example to guide future engagement with Afghanistan as Islamabad pursues regional stability.

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