Pakistan announces it will send an ambassador to Afghanistan to upgrade diplomatic ties

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan announced Friday that it is upgrading its diplomatic representation in neighboring Afghanistan from chargé d’affaires to ambassador, a move aimed at improving bilateral relations between the two neighbors.

The announcement by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar comes a week after he met with his Afghan counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, alongside China’s top diplomat during a trilateral meeting in Beijing.

Hours later, Kabul welcomed the Pakistani decision, saying it will also reciprocate by upgrading ties with Pakistan to ambassador's level.

In a statement, Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, a Taliban Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson, said the elevation of the level of diplomatic relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan paves the way for the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in many areas.

Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government have embassies in each other’s capitals but were being led by chargés d’affaires. Like the international community, Pakistan has not recognized the Afghan Taliban government.

A chargés d’affaires serves as an embassy’s chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador.

In a statement, Dar during the day said relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have taken a positive turn since his visit to Kabul in April. “To maintain this momentum, I am pleased to announce the decision of the Government of Pakistan to upgrade the level of its chargé d’affaires in Kabul to the level of ambassador,” he said.

Dar expressed hope that the decision would strengthen economic cooperation, boost bilateral trade and enhance joint efforts to combat terrorism.

Tensions between the two countries have long been strained over Pakistan’s accusations that Kabul provides safe haven to Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP and are allies of the Afghan Taliban.

TTP is a separate group and has been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

A man rides a horse at the Chaman-e-Hozari Park in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, May 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)

RAJKOT, India (AP) — New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell won the toss on Wednesday and decided to bowl first against India in the second one-day international.

India won the first ODI in Vadodara by four wickets and leads the three-match series 1-0. The third ODI will be played in Indore on Sunday.

Both sides made one change. Left-arm spin all-rounder Jayden Lennox comes in for New Zealand and wrist spinner Adithya Ashok has been left out.

Indian off-spin allrounder Washington Sundar suffered a rib injury in the first ODI and has been ruled out of the series. Batter Ayush Badoni was called up to the India squad for the remaining two ODIs, and India has brought in allrounder Nitish Reddy in place of Sundar.

The pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium should be batter-friendly with a high score anticipated. Evening dew will aid the chasing side.

Lineups:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, K.L. Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay, Michael Bracewell (captain), Zakary Foulkes, Jayden Lennox, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson, left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of India's Virat Kohli during the first One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Vadodara, India, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

India's Virat Kohli reacts as he leaves the field after losing his wicket during the first One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand in Vadodara, India, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)