Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, says that ensuring stability in Afghanistan is essential for maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Speaking today (Tuesday, October 20) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tajikistan, Mr. Dar said, "Pakistan continues to desire a peaceful, stable, regionally integrated, and prosperous Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbors." He added that Pakistan has made sincere efforts to support the development and welfare of the Afghan people.
Pakistan's foreign minister stated that in return, Islamabad has only one demand from the Taliban regime: "that Afghanistan's territory is not used for terrorism against Pakistan and the world."
Since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, Pakistan has witnessed a significant increase in insecurity and terrorist attacks, particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which border Afghanistan. Pakistani officials claim that these attacks are carried out using Afghan soil.
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has consistently denied this claim, stating that they will not allow any group to use Afghan territory against other countries. However, tensions over the presence of terrorist groups have strained relations between the Taliban and Pakistan for over a year.
These strained relations have led to deadly clashes between the two sides and blockades of the border. Mr. Dar added, "Pakistan is committed to a peaceful and stable neighborhood as a fundamental foundation for regional development and prosperity."
Source: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit
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