Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has called for concrete and verifiable action to prevent Afghan soil from being used for terrorist attacks against neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan.
Dar made the remarks while addressing a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Afghanistan on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The foreign minister expressed serious concern over the presence of terrorist groups inside Afghanistan and recalled the sacrifices made by Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. He said recent attacks highlighted the need for practical measures against terrorist groups and their alleged sanctuaries.
Dar specifically referred to the recent terrorist attack in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which killed and injured civilians and security personnel. Pakistani authorities have linked the wider security threat to militant groups operating from or associated with Afghanistan, while Afghan authorities have rejected allegations of allowing their territory to be used against Pakistan.
Dar urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to meet Afghanistan’s international obligations and commitments and take steps to prevent terrorist groups from operating from Afghan territory. He also called for an end to what Pakistan describes as support or patronage for terrorist groups.
The deputy prime minister also raised other issues concerning Afghanistan. He called for politically inclusive governance and urged Afghan authorities to facilitate the resettlement and integration of Afghan returnees.
He further called for adequate international funding to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs and support its socio-economic development. Dar reiterated Pakistan’s stated policy of supporting a stable and prosperous Afghanistan that remains at peace with itself and its neighbours.
Dar also urged the Afghan authorities to lift restrictions on women and girls, saying such measures were contrary to Islamic principles and the norms of Muslim society.
The meeting came amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has recently carried out airstrikes against what it described as militant targets in Afghanistan, while Afghan authorities have condemned the strikes and reported civilian casualties. The developments have added to concerns over cross-border militancy and relations between the two countries.
Dar is in New York as part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation for the UN General Assembly’s high-level week. The prime minister is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 25.
During his visit, Dar has also participated in OIC meetings dealing with regional and international issues, including Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir. The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met in New York and reaffirmed its support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
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