SCO meeting in Moscow: Dar terms stability in Afghanistan vital for regional peace

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has said that ensuring stability in Afghanistan is imperative for safeguarding peace and stability in the region.

In his statement at the SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting in Moscow, he said that sustainable economic development cannot be guaranteed without durable peace and security in the region. “Ensuring stability in Afghanistan is imperative for safeguarding peace and stability in our region, and Pakistan continues to aspire toward a peaceful, stable, regionally integrated, and prosperous Afghanistan, which is at peace with itself and its neighbours,” stated a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, quoting him as saying.

He said Pakistan’s location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East makes it an ideal trade conduit for the Eurasian region.

FM Dar to share Pakistan’s perspective at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Moscow

He went on to say that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a force multiplier for regional connectivity, not only by connecting Pakistan to China but also by offering all SCO countries a chance to invest in regional economic integration.

The SCO Business Council and SCO Interbank Association can play a vital role in fostering economic and commercial cooperation and investment among SCO Member States.

“We also need to take concrete steps toward promoting the use of national currencies for mutual settlement, and toward establishing the SCO Development Bank, SCO Development Fund, and Investment Fund. Such tools and measures will help the SCO region offset international financial shocks and advance development initiatives,” Dar stated.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said the initiation of a comprehensive and structured dialogue can meaningfully address the full spectrum of issues that have long bedeviled peace and security in South Asia. Pakistan is committed to the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ and its noble principles, which anchor our collective efforts in the face of great transformation in the geopolitical and geo-economic arenas.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025