Afghanistan FM’s visit to Pakistan blocked: US allegedly rejected travel ban exemption; Rising Taliban – China Relations Scanner under China | world News
The United States blocked Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mottaki’s visit to Pakistan, Dawn said. Mutki was scheduled to visit Pakistan on August 4 as part of the recent attempt to improve the relationship between Kabul and Islamabad. The initiative traveled after Pakistani deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Kabul, which was made convenient by China.According to diplomatic sources cited by Don, Matacue, which is under international sanctions, is stopped from foreign travel without a special discount from the United Nations Ban Committee.The report stated that the US refused to approve the travel restriction for Mutak by delaying its decision till the last moment. The American decision is believed to have affected the Taliban government’s growing proximity with China.However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office did not directly confirm the American role. In the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Shafkat Ali Khan said that “some procedural issues” are being worked on and that no official dates for Matatiki’s visit were confirmed. “Once these procedural matters are resolved, we are ready to welcome the Afghan Foreign Minister to Pakistan,” he was quoted saying.The US State Department said, “We don’t comment on rumors”, when a briefing was asked whether the US had blocked Mutki’s visit, Dawn said.
