Pakistan removes special representative to Afghanistan: Report

Pakistan removes special representative to Afghanistan amid tensions with Kabul, media reports confirm.

The Pakistan government has removed its special representative to Afghanistan Asif Durrani, amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, media reports said on Saturday (September 14, 2024).

According to an official notification, Mr. Durrani was "relieved of his responsibilities as Special Representative on Afghanistan in Management Position" on September 10, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

No official reason was given for the move.

However, citing sources, the report said Mr. Durrani, who was appointed to the post in May 2023, failed to make an impact on the Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship. It also said Mr. Durrani had no acceptability in Kabul as he only had a handful of engagements with the Taliban-led interim government.

Other sources said that Mr. Durrani had few tools at his disposal, given the overall strategy being followed by Pakistan.

The Dawn newspaper reported the country's powerful military was unhappy with his performance, and Mr. Durrani, too, had grown frustrated as his policy advice was regularly ignored by his principals.

Mr. Durrani confirmed his departure in a text message, expressing gratitude to the leadership for allowing him to serve Pakistan, according to the report.