The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Tuesday urged Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities to prevent their territory from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan and other countries, saying lasting peace and stability were essential for sustainable economic development in the region.
Addressing the 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe, Dar reiterated
Pakistan’s desire for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan integrated
with the wider region.
He reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to regional stability,
economic partnerships and greater Eurasian connectivity, emphasizing that
dialogue and diplomacy remained the most effective means of resolving regional
tensions.
Pakistan also remained engaged in mediation efforts between
the United States and Iran, Dar said, according to a statement from the Foreign
Office. He added that Islamabad would continue to support dialogue and peaceful
dispute resolution to promote lasting peace and stability in West Asia and the
Gulf.
Dar called for greater regional connectivity, increased
investment in energy and transport infrastructure, and stronger economic
cooperation among SCO member states to promote shared prosperity.
He urged the organization to expand structured partnerships
with international and regional bodies, including the United Nations, the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Economic Cooperation
Organization, as well as international financial institutions.
Emphasizing the importance of economic integration, Dar said
investment in agriculture, mining, minerals and information technology would
help strengthen regional economic resilience. He also described the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as an opportunity for all SCO partners to
participate in and accelerate regional economic integration.
Dar said artificial intelligence, digital transformation,
innovation, energy cooperation and international information security should
become key pillars of future cooperation among member states.
He also called for greater use of national currencies in
bilateral settlements and the establishment of an SCO development bank,
development fund and investment fund. Such initiatives, he said, could finance
development projects and help member states withstand international financial
shocks.
Criticizing protectionist policies and unilateral coercive
measures, Dar said they undermined international law, restricted technological
progress and widened inequality. He called for reforms to global financial and
trade systems to ensure more equitable development.
Dar also outlined Pakistan’s priorities for its SCO
chairmanship under the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity,
Innovation and Shared Prosperity,” announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The priorities include peace and security, regional
connectivity and trade, innovation and digital transformation, climate
resilience and sustainable energy, and people-to-people exchanges.
Dar thanked Tajikistan’s prime minister, Qohir Rasulzoda,
and the country’s government and people for their hospitality. He said Pakistan
looked forward to welcoming heads of state to the SCO Council of Heads of State
summit in Islamabad in August 2027.
