Ishaq Dar: Regional Peace Requires Addressing Terrorist Threats from Afghanistan

DID Press: Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that what he described as terrorist threats emanating from Afghanistan are undermining efforts to promote peace, stability and development in the region, calling on the Taliban authorities to take “concrete and verifiable” measures to address Islamabad’s security concerns.

Dar made the remarks at the 27th informal meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in New York, held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He said Pakistan wanted a peaceful, prosperous and stable Afghanistan that was integrated with the region and at peace with its neighbors. However, he said, what Pakistan describes as terrorism originating from Afghan territory was hindering that objective.

Dar called on the Taliban authorities to take concrete and verifiable action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and their affiliates, which he said threaten Pakistan’s sovereignty and the lives of its citizens. These are allegations made by Pakistani officials; the Taliban has previously rejected claims that Afghan territory is being used to attack other countries.

At the same time, Dar said Islamabad remained committed to “constructive engagement” with the Taliban and had provided bilateral trade and transit concessions to Afghanistan. He also highlighted efforts to advance a framework agreement for a feasibility study of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project.

Dar also emphasized stronger economic cooperation among ECO members. He said the organization’s roughly 500 million people account for about 2.2% of global trade and called for improved trade, transit, visa facilitation and digital integration to connect Central Asia with ports on the Arabian Sea.

The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban authorities over Islamabad’s allegations concerning armed groups operating from Afghan territory. Pakistani officials have repeatedly called for action against such groups, while Taliban officials have denied allowing Afghan territory to be used against other countries.