Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s planned trip to Pakistan has been derailed, reportedly due to the United States blocking a United Nations Security Council exemption to his travel ban, Pakistan’s Dawn reported.
Muttaqi, who is under international sanctions, requires special approval from the UN 1988 Sanctions Committee to travel abroad. His visit to Islamabad was scheduled for August 4 and was seen as a follow-up to Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s April trip to Kabul, which helped ease tensions between the two neighbours. That rapprochement was reportedly facilitated by China.
According to diplomatic sources cited by Dawn, Washington withheld its decision on granting the travel waiver until the last moment before ultimately refusing, effectively cancelling the trip. The US, as a permanent member of the Security Council, wields considerable influence in the sanctions committee, which enforces travel bans, asset freezes, and arms embargoes on Taliban-linked individuals under Resolution 1988 (2011).
Observers believe the US decision may have been motivated by concerns over deepening ties between the Taliban government and Beijing. The move reflects a broader pattern of friction in the committee, where China and Russia often advocate for more relaxed exemptions, while Washington maintains a harder stance.
When asked at a recent briefing whether it had blocked the visit, a US State Department spokesperson declined to comment, saying only, “We do not comment on rumours.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Office downplayed the situation, with spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan referring to “procedural issues” and clarifying that no formal dates for the visit had been finalised. “Once these procedural matters are resolved, we look forward to welcoming the Afghan foreign minister to Pakistan,” he said, adding that both sides remain engaged on the matter.
