Regional peace, development hinge on eliminating terror threat from Afghanistan: DPM

• DPM Dar urges Taliban regime to address security concerns.
• Says Islamabad continues efforts to de-escalate Mideast tensions.
• Pakistan prioritises ECO trade and economic integration.
  

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Saturday said terrorism emanating from Afghanistan was undermining regional peace and development, urging the Taliban regime to take concrete action against militant groups.

Addressing the 27th informal meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Council of Ministers in New York, the DPM said Pakistan desired a peaceful, prosperous and stable Afghanistan that was fully integrated into the region and at peace with itself and its neighbours.

His remarks came amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul following a series of terrorist attacks by Afghanistan-based militants targeting Pakistan.

Against this backdrop, Dar said Pakistan had pursued and advocated constructive engagement with the Taliban regime in line with its foreign policy goals of peace, development and regional integration.

"Pakistan's only expectation from the Taliban regime is to address our legitimate security concerns," Dar said, expressing hope for concrete and verifiable action against the proscribed militant outfits Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), as well as other affiliates that he said continued to threaten Pakistan's sovereignty and the lives of its citizens.

"We believe that peace and development in the region can only be achieved with the elimination of the terrorist threat which is emanating right now from Afghanistan," Dar said.

He said Pakistan had extended bilateral and transit trade concessions to Afghanistan and pursued a framework agreement for a feasibility study of the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project as a key priority, among other initiatives.

Dar said Pakistan's approach towards Afghanistan was aligned with its broader objectives of peace, development and regional integration.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban regime to act against militant groups operating from Afghan soil, amid a rise in terrorist attacks and cross-border incidents.

Regional security and diplomacy

The deputy prime minister also expressed deep concern over the prevailing security situation in the region and the Middle East, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.

Pakistan has also continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the US-Iran conflict, with Islamabad facilitating dialogue between the two sides and supporting implementation of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

He said ECO member states needed to harness their collective potential to promote peace, resilience and shared prosperity for the region’s nearly half a billion people.

Pakistan's ECO priorities

Pakistan is chairing the ECO Council of Ministers for 2026-27 under the theme "Reviving Regionalism for a Resilient ECO".

Dar outlined Pakistan’s priorities for its chairmanship, including strengthening 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 enhancing regional cooperation on climate resilience.

According to DPM Dar, ECO member states account for around 2.2% of global trade, while trade among member states represents roughly 8% of their overall regional trade.

The informal meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The meeting was attended by foreign ministers and senior representatives of ECO member states, who exchanged views on regional and global developments and expressed support for enhanced regional cooperation.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to build momentum towards the 30th ECO Council of Ministers meeting, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in November.