Cowardly acts of terror can never weaken our resolve: Dar

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar has said that “cowardly” acts of terror in Wana and Islamabad will not weaken Pakistan’s resolve to deal with terrorism.

Dar said this while addressing the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) on Wednesday. He said that the persistence of “conflicts” and unresolved “disputes” continues to cast long shadows over our shared aspirations to advance peace, security, and development.

He said that one of the major global challenges of our time is terrorism. Pakistan has been a bulwark against this menace that does not recognize any boundary, religion, gender, ethnicity, or race. He added that geopolitical rivalries, economic divides, climate crises, terrorism, and widening inequalities threaten the cooperative spirit that sustained peace for the past many decades.

PM asks Kabul to take action against terror groups

He said this conference marked a moment to celebrate parliamentary diplomacy as the voice of the people in global affairs. He went on to say that the conference provides a unique platform to translate peace, security, and development into tangible outcomes that not only advance Pakistan’s interests but also strengthen regional stability.

He added that parliamentary diplomacy complements traditional diplomacy by bringing the perspectives of people’s representatives into international discourse. By engaging with peers across borders, parliamentarians share experiences, exchange ideas, and discuss the application of fundamental principles of governance, rights, and democracy.

He said that peace, security, and development enable growth, and development sustains peace.

Security and cooperation fortify the foundations for progress. To achieve these objectives, we must resolve challenges that transcend borders, demanding collective resolve and coordinated action, he said, adding that no nation, no matter how strong or self-reliant, can confront these challenges alone.

He said that Pakistan categorically rejects acts of terrorism in all forms and manifestations, whether these take place in Islamabad or anywhere else in the world. We witnessed two heinous acts of terrorism in Wana and Islamabad, resulting in the loss of 15 precious lives.

“These cowardly acts will never shake or weaken our national resolve. If anything, they reaffirm our conviction that dialogue, understanding, and partnership are the only sustainable paths to peace and security,” he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025