RASC News Agency: The U.S. Department of State has announced that John Bass, the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, has arrived in Islamabad for a three-day visit. One of the primary focuses of his trip is to engage in discussions with Pakistani officials on issues related to Afghanistan. According to the State Department, Afghanistan’s evolving situation will be a central theme in Bass’s meetings with Pakistani authorities, alongside other significant topics. The statement, released today Monday, September 16, confirmed Bass’s arrival in Islamabad earlier this morning. Key points on his agenda include bilateral relations and regional security.
John Bass served as the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2017 to 2020. During his tenure, the U.S. signed the Doha Agreement with the Taliban an agreement that experts believe set the stage for the eventual collapse of the previous Afghanistan government. The Doha Agreement paved the way for the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, resulting in the displacement of millions of Afghanistani citizens, who have since faced severe poverty and unemployment. The fallout from the agreement led to the fall of the Afghanistan government, the U.S. military’s withdrawal, and the Taliban’s return to power, which has exacerbated widespread poverty and unemployment, forcing countless Afghanistanis to flee to both neighboring and distant countries.
The insecurity brought about by Taliban rule has triggered a mass migration of Afghanistani citizens, many of whom fled the country fearing for their lives. In the wake of the Taliban’s resurgence, hundreds have been detained and tortured, with many executed on various charges. Bass’s visit takes place amidst growing tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan, a neighbor increasingly dissatisfied with the Taliban’s rule. Relations between Islamabad and the Taliban have recently become strained, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
