ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan has accorded recognition to the new Govern­ment of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan headed by Sardar Muhammad Daud Khan, it was officially stated here today [July 22]. The Afghanistan Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Ali Ahmed Popal, was called to the Foreign Office … and informed of the decision of the Pakistan Government. … [P]akistan has always desired close and cordial relations with the neighbouring Muslim country. … Commenting on last Tuesday’s [July 17] change of Government in Afghanistan, a Foreign Office spokesman had stated that Pakistan had always wanted friendly ties with Afghanistan and would work towards that end. …

The new Afghan Government has denied a report that Pakistanis have been ordered to leave Afghanistan, following assumption of power by the new regime … Radio Kabul rep­orted… . Quoting a Foreign Ministry spokesman, the Radio said in its Urdu external service that the report was “absolutely baseless”. … The Radio reported that Pakistan, the United States, Bulgaria, Australia, Britain and Turkey have also accorded recognition to the new regime. … [A] Delhi report adds: Kabul and Kandahar airports, closed after the coup … have been reopened.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2023