Pakistan FM Dar urges Taliban to stop terror from Afghan soil

DUSHANBE — Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that Pakistan expects one thing from the Afghan Taliban regime: that Afghan territory not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country. He spoke at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, according to The Express Tribune.

Dar said Pakistan wants a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbours. He said Pakistan had made sincere efforts to support Afghanistan's development and the well-being of its people.

He said sustainable economic development could not be guaranteed without durable peace and security in the region. "Ensuring stability in Afghanistan is imperative for safeguarding peace and stability of our region," he said, according to the report.

Dar also addressed the SCO's work. He said the organisation had remained anchored in its spirit of mutual trust and respect for diversity over the past 25 years. He said Pakistan would highlight the role of small and medium enterprises in reducing poverty this year, and that targeted investment in energy and transport was vital for regional economic integration.

The Express Tribune reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had set out Pakistan's SCO chairmanship theme, "Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity."

Background

Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns about militant groups operating from Afghan territory. The report did not provide details of specific attacks or incidents in its excerpt, and it did not include any response from the Afghan Taliban government.

The SCO brings together regional states to cooperate on security, trade and economic issues. Dar said Pakistan hosted the Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in 2024 and had chaired the SCO Anti-Terrorism Structure this year.