ishaq dar
(Daily Jurat)Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday reiterated the need to eliminate the terrorist threat from Afghanistan, saying terrorism emanating from Afghan soil was undermining efforts to promote peace, prosperity and development in the region.
Chairing the 27th Informal Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, DPM Dar said Pakistan had always sought a peaceful, prosperous and stable Afghanistan that was integrated into the region and at peace with itself and its neighbours.
“Regrettably, the issue of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil undermines these efforts,” he added.
The foreign minister said Pakistan had pursued constructive engagement with the Taliban regime, extending bilateral and transit trade concessions to Afghanistan and making the signing of a framework agreement for a feasibility study on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway project a key priority.DPM Dar said Pakistan’s expectation was that the Taliban regime would address its security concerns, including through “concrete and verifiable actions” against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and their affiliates.
“These groups continue to threaten Pakistan’s sovereignty and the lives of its citizens,” he said.He said peace and development in the region could only be achieved with the elimination of the terrorist threat from Afghanistan.According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the foreign minister “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.”
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