Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar emphasized on Saturday that terrorism originating from Afghanistan poses a significant threat to regional peace and development. Speaking at the 27th informal meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Council of Ministers in New York, he urged the Taliban regime to take decisive and verifiable measures against militant groups.
Dar highlighted Pakistan’s vision for a peaceful, prosperous, and stable Afghanistan that is fully integrated within the region and maintains harmonious relations with its neighbors. His comments come amid escalating tensions between Islamabad and Kabul following multiple terrorist attacks by militants based in Afghanistan targeting Pakistan.
In this context, Dar reiterated that Pakistan has consistently pursued constructive engagement with the Taliban in line with its foreign policy objectives of peace, development, and regional integration. He stated that Pakistan’s sole expectation from the Taliban is to address its legitimate security concerns by taking concrete action against banned militant outfits such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), and other affiliated groups that threaten Pakistan’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens.
“Peace and development in the region can only be realized through the elimination of the terrorist threat emanating from Afghanistan,” Dar asserted. He also noted Pakistan’s efforts to support Afghanistan economically, including bilateral and transit trade concessions and a framework agreement for a feasibility study on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project, which remains a key priority.
Dar underscored that Pakistan’s approach toward Afghanistan aligns with its broader goals of fostering peace, development, and regional cooperation. Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Taliban regime to act against militants operating from Afghan territory, especially in light of increasing terrorist attacks and cross-border incidents.
Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister expressed grave concern over the wider security challenges in the region and the Middle East. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to resolving disputes peacefully in accordance with international law. Pakistan has also played a diplomatic role in de-escalating tensions between the US and Iran, facilitating dialogue and supporting the implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.
Dar stressed the importance of ECO member states leveraging their collective strengths to promote peace, resilience, and shared prosperity for nearly half a billion people in the region. Pakistan will chair the ECO Council of Ministers for 2026-27 under the theme “Reviving Regionalism for a Resilient ECO.”
He outlined Pakistan’s priorities for its chairmanship, including enhancing intra-regional trade and economic integration, improving connectivity and transit corridors linking Central Asia with Arabian Sea ports, advancing a digitally enabled ECO Free Trade Area, and strengthening regional cooperation on climate resilience.
Dar, ECO member states account for about 2.2% of global trade, while trade within the member states comprises roughly 8% of their overall regional trade. The informal meeting coincided with the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and gathered foreign ministers and senior representatives from ECO countries to discuss regional and global developments and express support for deeper regional cooperation.
Additionally, the meeting served as a platform to build momentum toward the 30th ECO Council of Ministers meeting, scheduled to take place in Islamabad in November.
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