Taliban's 'protocol snub' to Ishaq Dar highlights Afghanistan's calculated downgrade of ties with Pakistan

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-08-20 17:09:40 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-20 19:33:19

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The Taliban's decision to not offer the same red-carpet treatment it gave to other foreign leaders to Pakistani deputy PM Ishaq Dar highlights Afghanistan's calculated downgrade of ties with Islamabad, experts believe.

Images of Dar who was leading the Pakistani delegation to the foreign ministers' trilateral meeting in Kabul being denied the dignity of a separate vehicle, with Taliban ministers opting to ride with him in a humble car, have caused a stir on social media.

While the Taliban have dismissed the incident as nothing more than a "protocol issue", the images are particularly striking given the ostentatious welcome given to other dignitaries including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last month.

"The Taliban, it seems, are sending a message to Islamabad that they are not willing to bow to Pakistani pressure over issues such as recognition and aid," a spokesperson for the Afghan government told us.

"This is also a message to Pakistan that it should not interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs."

The spokesperson said that the Taliban's foreign ministry had issued a formal apology to Dar and insisted the issue was being "blown out of proportion" but the damage has been done.

"The Taliban are upset with Pakistan," an Afghan analyst told us, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"They are sending a message to Pakistan that they are not willing to become a colony of Islamabad."

The analyst believed the Taliban had chosen to downgrade ties with Pakistan because of Islamabad's failure to recognise the Taliban-led government and its refusal to allow Afghan traders to transport goods through Pakistani ports.

"Pakistan is also not willing to give them the recognition that they crave," the analyst said.

As yet, there has been no official comment from the Pakistani government.

But one source within the governing PTI party told us that Islamabad was "not happy with the way the Taliban treated Dar".

"It was a clear protocol violation," the source said. "And it has caused immense embarrassment to Pakistan."

The source added that Pakistan would continue to engage with the Taliban and try to build ties with the new regime.

"That's why we are still holding meetings and engaging with them," the source said.

"But this incident has affected trust between the two nations."

Only time will tell if the incident has impacted the relationship between the neighbours. But one thing is certain: the episode has certainly not helped.

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