A Pakistani delegation travelled to Kabul on Monday to address issues related to bilateral trade and repair fractured ties, days after Islamabad carried out airstrikes, triggering fresh tensions between the neighbours.

The two-day visit, led by Pakistani Commerce Secretary Khurrum Agha, aimed to improve bilateral relations and trade.

“Pakistan remains committed to promoting trade and people-to-people ties with Afghanistan,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, announced on X, formerly Twitter.

The visit took place days after Pakistani fighter jets targeted alleged hideouts of Islamist rebels in Afghanistan after a deadly cross-border attack against the military.

Tensions between the two countries have been running high even before the airstrikes since Islamabad began expelling undocumented foreigners, particularly Afghans, in November last year.

Pakistani authorities have now started making preparations, as per announcements and local media reports, to deport registered Afghan refugees.

The deportation process will likely begin next month, but the exact date has not yet been announced.

Amid diplomatic tensions, trade between the two countries was affected and remained suspended for weeks in January due to documentation of drivers.

Islamabad accused Kabul of being lenient on the Pakistani Taliban allegedly hiding in Afghanistan, planning and executing deadly cross-border attacks.

Kabul denied the allegations. 

(dpa/NAN)