ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to take collective action against terrorism originating from Afghan soil.
Dar said Pakistan remained committed to a peaceful, stable, prosperous and regionally integrated Afghanistan that coexists peacefully with its own people and neighbouring countries.
He stressed that such an outcome would serve the interests of all SCO member states and contribute to broader regional security.
The deputy prime minister described terrorism emanating from Afghanistan as one of Pakistan’s most pressing security challenges.
He stated that terrorist organisations continued to recruit, train and operate from Afghan territory under the watch and facilitation of the Afghan Taliban administration.
Pakistan has suffered heavily from terrorism, with more than 560 people killed in over 2,000 terrorist attacks so far this year.
He also expressed concern over the reported involvement of Afghan nationals in several of these incidents.
Dar urged the SCO to impress upon the Afghan authorities the importance of fulfilling their international counter-terrorism commitments and taking effective measures to prevent their territory from being used for terrorist activities.
Dar said the organisation had transformed over the past 25 years from a security-focused grouping into a comprehensive regional platform promoting peace, economic cooperation, development, cultural exchanges and connectivity.
Looking ahead, he said the SCO’s next phase of development should prioritise digital inclusion, narrowing the technological divide and strengthening regional energy security.
He noted that Pakistan had facilitated high-level diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran earlier this year, leading to the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June 2026.
He described the agreement as a significant diplomatic breakthrough achieved through Pakistan’s active engagement with both countries and extensive consultations with regional and international partners.
Dar expressed appreciation for the confidence shown by both Washington and Tehran in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and encouraged the international community to build upon the momentum created by the Islamabad MoU and subsequent technical talks to promote lasting regional peace.
On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, Dar held separate meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, reviewing regional developments and increasing cooperation within multilateral forums.
China also conveyed its support for Pakistan’s upcoming chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for 2026–27 and welcomed Pakistan’s hosting of the SCO Summit in 2027.
