Ishaq Dar says Afghan soil remains security threat

Published On 24 Jul, 2026
ishaq-dar-says-afghan-soil-remains-security-threat

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that terrorism originating from Afghan territory as a major security challenge for Pakistan, stating that banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorists are operating from Afghanistan.

Speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Kyrgyzstan, Dar said Pakistan wanted a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan but remained concerned over attacks originating from Afghan territory.

He said Pakistan was also concerned about the involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist incidents, adding that attacks from Afghan soil were continuing. Dar claimed that more than 2,000 terrorist attacks had taken place in Pakistan this year, resulting in the deaths of 560 Pakistanis.

He said that the Afghan Taliban were providing a conducive environment to militant groups and called on the SCO to urge the Afghan authorities to fulfil their commitments on counterterrorism.

Dar said the SCO had emerged as a comprehensive platform for promoting peace, security and stability in the region. He described the organisation's "Shanghai Spirit" as being rooted in mutual trust, shared development and constructive diplomacy.

The foreign minister also urged the international community to seize the opportunity created by ongoing talks between the United States and Iran and play a role in finding a lasting solution to the dispute.

He said dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect were the only sustainable means of resolving conflicts and establishing lasting peace and security.

Referring to talks held in Islamabad in April and the subsequent signing of an Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, Dar said the development had been made possible by Pakistan's close ties with both sides and its diplomatic efforts with regional and international partners.

He urged the international community to build on the Islamabad MoU and ongoing technical negotiations between the two sides to pursue a permanent, peaceful and durable resolution to the conflict.

Dar also called for vigilance against elements seeking to undermine regional stability, warning that such actors could attempt to sabotage peace efforts and reverse progress achieved so far.

He stressed that the international community must work together to achieve peace, stability and prosperity.