ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged Afghanistan to take action against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorist groups operating from the Afghan side, saying that lasting peace can be guaranteed in this way.
“Afghanistan must understand that lasting peace could only be realised by reining in TTP and other terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory,” the PM said on Tuesday.
He was speaking at the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers Conference (ISC) hosted by the Senate of Pakistan.
Terror groups: Afghan regime tried to shy away from taking firm actions: FO
The moot was originally scheduled to be a three-day event (10 to 12 November) for which the Senate Secretariat widely advertised and sent out invitations to the international delegates to attend the conference on the given dates; but, the Senate leadership reduced the three-day moot to a two-day event following the conduct of the Senate session related to the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment on Monday.
Addressing the moot’s launching ceremony on Tuesday, the PM said that militant groups continue to imperil peace, not only within Afghanistan but also beyond its borders.
“When our border posts were attacked last month from the Afghan side, our response was firm and decisive, teaching an unforgettable lesson to those who attacked Pakistan,” the PM said.
Sharif said a peaceful Afghanistan is key to regional connectivity, growth, progress, and prosperity, but peace remained elusive for decades.
The PM appreciated the efforts of Turkey and Qatar in facilitating peace talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime.
PM Sharif appeared to have implied that India and Pakistan were engaged in a “war” this May, which, according to him, was won by Pakistan.
“Having won the war, we need to win peace through sincere and honest efforts,” Sharif said.
“The true value of peace is most profoundly understood when we are confronted with the conflicts that continue to plague our world. Pakistan too has encountered this turbulence, both directly as well as indirectly. But we have remained resolute in our quest to maintain peace and tranquillity,” the Premier said.
He did not specifically talk about Pakistan’s ties with China other than saying the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is entering the second phase. Pakistan’s efforts at home and abroad are guided by the conviction of shared prosperity, PM Sharif said.
“Pakistan believes in global interaction and multilateralism. We are ready to work with all international players, including the European Union, the United States, Japan, the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, and others,” the Premier said.
The parliaments are the custodians of the people’s will, and they are duty-bound to honour the public expectations to bring about a collective improvement in their lives, he added.
In his address, Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani said peace, security, and development are inseparable pillars of progress.
The ISC, he said, is being held under the theme, “Peace, Security and Development.”
The chairman added, “Without peace and security, no nation can build; and without development, peace remains fragile.”
He said “the world today faces unprecedented instability driven by wars, economic shocks, climate change, and rapid technological disruptions.”
“Peace is unravelling before us — from Gaza to Sudan to Occupied Kashmir,” the Senate chief said.
In such testing times, parliaments must serve as guiding lights, promoting understanding and cooperation across divides, added the chairman Senate.
He stressed the need for a broader and inclusive understanding of security that encompasses economic and climate resilience, environmental sustainability, food and water security, and digital integrity.
Gilani said despite provocations on Pakistan’s eastern and north-western borders, the country had “demonstrated remarkable maturity and restraint.”
“We have consistently extended the hand of dialogue, for peace is a two-way street that requires reciprocity,” he said.
“Parliaments are not bystanders in the pursuit of peace and prosperity but drivers of trust, builders of consensus, and voices of the people when the world grows uncertain,” Gilani said.
He urged the ISC delegates to “move beyond promises and share bold, implementable solutions that reflect the diverse experiences of participating nations.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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