US praises improvement in Pak-Afghan ties

E-Paper | May 22, 2026

WASHINGTON: The most important step, the new Afghan government has taken in its short time in office is to improve relations with Pakistan, US Secretary of State John Kerry was quoted as saying here on Friday.

And Pakistan’s Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani also acknowledged this at a briefing, noting that relations between the two neighbours had shown a marked improvement in the last two and a half months.

“During their short time in office, they’ve taken steps to combat money laundering and corruption, improve the country’s fiscal situation, and foster better relations with their neighbours, including importantly – perhaps most importantly – Pakistan,” said Secretary Kerry.

Also read: Sharif wants close ties with new Afghan govt

According to a transcript issued by his office in Washington, Secretary Kerry also said that an agreement Pakistan and Afghanistan signed with Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday would bring the much-needed electricity from Central to South Asia.

“Advancing this project to completion would make real the idea of a regional energy market connecting South and Central Asia,” he said.

Noting that this was a “region of unbelievable guts and grit and determination,” Secretary Kerry said: “There’s no question in my mind that the pride of the people of Afghanistan, the people of Pakistan, the people of India could have a very different future facing them.”

“I’m confident that … together we will write a very different history for South Central Asia,” he added.

Ambassador Jilani told a briefing that relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were improvingly rapidly.

The US-Pakistan strategic partnership was also on the right trajectory, he added.

Speaking at the American University on US-Pakistan relations, he said the two countries were also working together to ensure security and stability in Afghanistan after 2014, when the Americans plan to pull most of their troops out of that country.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2014

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Anwar Iqbal is a correspondent for Dawn, based in Washington, DC.

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Sreenath

Dec 06, 2014 07:24am

Much wanted certification from a disowned friend?

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dawn

Dec 06, 2014 09:13am

Don't believe it.

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Pervez

Dec 06, 2014 09:20am

Wise choice by Afghans, IF they can get out of the buffer state mentality I . E Playing one power against the other.

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Sunil

Dec 06, 2014 09:41am

Pak-Afghan ties are only at diplomatic level, beyond that its farce.

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Ridwan

Dec 06, 2014 11:47am

@Sunil Actually Sunil, as an indian you might not be aware of the deep ties we have together with Afghanistan. A huge percent of afghans lived a large part of their lives in Pakistan. In Peshawar, huge numbers of afghans still prefer to live in Pakistan - especially the business minded Kabulis. In bazaars you hear Dari and Tajik all the time. Not to mention a massive number of Pakistanis are of afghan descent or are Pashtuns with deep cultural and trade ties to Afghanistan. Middle class afghans regularly come to peshawar and islamabad to shop too. So what in the world are you talking about? Diplomatic relations are actually bad - our cultural trade and economic ties are very strong ! But of course, you're Indian and wouldn't know. But maybe learn the facts. Instead you WISH our ties weren't so strong, but your wishes are reality.

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Realist

Dec 06, 2014 12:13pm

@Sunil People to people relations are immensely strong in western and northern part of Pakistan especially. There is massive non regulated trade which needs to be regulated also.

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Laddoo

Dec 06, 2014 12:32pm

@Sunil Hahaha. An Indian will say that. There are almost 8 million afghan refugees in Pakistan since the early 80's and call Pakistan their home. Pakistan has historical and religious ties with Afghanistan. It's only natural for both countries to come close. There is nothing common between India and Afghanistan so what is Indian interest in Afghanistan other then to have few counsulates and use them to support terror in Pakistan?

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Key Points

Dec 06, 2014 01:28pm

Pakistan should distance itself from Afghanistan's problem. Getting involved in trying to solve Afghanistan's problems has been a big headache and a thankless job for Pakistani people. Foreign forces come & go from Afghanistan, let Afghans deal with them at their own. Pakistan has ended up with three million afghan refugees, gun culture and extreminism while trying to help Afghans. Pakistan's progress has been hampered a great deal as a result of sorting out Afghan problems, while afghans turn around & blame all their problems on Pakistan. On top of that afghans allow so many indian consulates on pak-afghan borders. Than you have stream of weapons coming across the border in to Baluchistan, resulting in killing & death of Pakistani citizens. Time to say, good bye dear Afghans, go sort out your problems at your own, and if you cannot solve them, blame someone else for a change.

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