Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s newly appointed special envoy for Afghanistan, met with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the acting interior minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), in Kabul on Tuesday to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and resolving key issues between Islamabad and the IEA, according to a statement from the Afghan Ministry of Interior.

The statement highlighted that the Pakistani delegation extended condolences on behalf of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over the recent passing of Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, the IEA's acting Minister for Refugees. The delegation expressed deep sympathy to his family and the Afghan people.

During the meeting, Sadiq reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to improving relations with Afghanistan through collaborative efforts.

"We are committed to resolving challenges between our two countries through joint initiatives aimed at strengthening both economic and social ties," the statement quoted Sadiq as saying.

Meanwhile, Minister Haqqani emphasized the long-standing religious, cultural, and historical bonds shared between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He stressed the importance of accelerating cooperative efforts to address shared security and political challenges.

"The current circumstances require us to expedite our joint actions to safeguard the relationship between our peoples and ensure regional stability and development," Haqqani stated.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has announced the release of 53 Afghan citizens from Pakistani prisons, who have now returned to Afghanistan.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry confirmed that of the 53 individuals, 45 were released individually, while 8 were members of the same family. These persons returned to Afghanistan after their release.

The ministry further noted that they entered the country through the Spin Boldak border in Kandahar province.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon are set to meet in Leningrad on Tuesday, December 24. According to Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s aide, the discussion will focus on military-technical cooperation and the situation in Afghanistan.

The state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on Monday, December 23, that other topics of discussion will include migration, and the development of political, trade, economic, and cultural relations between Russia and Tajikistan.

This meeting comes as Tajikistan prepares to assume the presidency of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in January 2025. Russia held the presidency for 2024.

The leaders from across the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian Economic Union are set to gather for informal meetings in the same region on Wednesday and Thursday, further underscoring the importance of the discussions.