Today’s Top News ⇒ Deputy PM Ishaq Dar to Visit Kabul Amid Afghan Repatriation

[Em Vicky Khan]

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s deputy prime minister is traveling to Afghanistan on the weekend at the invitation of Kabul to discuss a range of issues, including boosting cooperation in areas of mutual interest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.

Saturday’s visit by Ishaq Dar, who is also the country’s foreign minister, comes despite an ongoing campaign aimed at the expulsion of Afghans living in the country illegally. It is the first such high-level visit by Dar since the Afghan Taliban seized power.

More than 80,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan since April 1 after a deadline for voluntary return of foreigners expired, according to Pakistani officials.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told a news conference that Dar’s visit is “part of our efforts to develop good, positive relations with Afghanistan”.