Pakistan would use its passport to 'ascertain facts' about an Afghan minister

On Thursday, Pakistan announced its intention to carefully assess the veracity of a report before providing an official comment. The report alleges that Afghanistan's acting Interior Minister, Sirajuddin Haqqani, held a Pakistani passport until recently. During the weekly press briefing, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for the Foreign Office (FO), addressed the matter, stating, "I have seen the report on the use of a Pakistani passport by the Afghan minister. The matter will be addressed after verifying the facts." According to a publication in The News Today, Haqqani purportedly obtained a Pakistani passport valid for five years, which he utilized for international travel. This included trips to Qatar for negotiations with the United States concerning the Doha Agreement, leading to the U.S.'s withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Interior Ministry officials revealed that these passports were issued from various cities, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh. Simultaneously, two passport officials responsible for issuing Haqqani's passport have been arrested. One of them had retired from service by the time the action was taken against him. This development arises amid Pakistan's ongoing efforts to repatriate illegal foreigners, primarily undocumented Afghan migrants. Baloch also provided information during the press briefing about high-ranking U.S. officials visiting Pakistan this week. She emphasized that these visits extend beyond Afghanistan, encompassing the diverse facets of Pakistan-U.S. relations. Pakistan has decided to engage in discussions with the United States, and consultations will cover various issues, including the situation in Afghanistan. During the meetings between Pakistani and U.S. officials, both sides' reservations will be on the agenda. Baloch stated, "We will also discuss the issues on which we have objections."