ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 Reuters - Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Kabul on Thursday for his first visit to the Afghan capital since the Taliban victory in August, following weeks of tension over transport links between the two neighbouring countries.
Qureshi will focus in his talks with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and other Taliban leaders on ways and means to deepen cooperation in diverse areas Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement.
The delegation included the head of the ISI intelligence service, Faiz Hameed, who visited Kabul in the immediate aftermath of the fall of the city.
The visit comes after severe problems at the Chaman border crossing, one of the main transit points between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which has been closed for more than two weeks, causing prolonged problems for truckers and exporters.
In addition, Pakistan International Airlines, the only international airline that had been operating regularly in Kabul, suspended flights last week, complaining of interference and harassment by Taliban officials. The Foreign Minister's visit reflects Pakistan's consistent policy of supporting the brotherly Afghan people, deepening bilateral trade and economic relations and facilitating closer people-to-people contacts, the ministry statement said.
The border closure has hurt Afghan fruit producers near the southern city of Kandahar, with pomegranates and other export produce left to rot because trucks cannot get through to their markets across the border.