SCO CFMs meeting held: Dar highlights involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist attacks

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said that the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan remains one of its most serious security challenges, with more than 560 innocent Pakistanis martyred in over 2,000 terrorist incidents so far in 2026. It also expressed deep concern over the involvement of Afghan nationals in carrying out these terrorist attacks.

Deputy Foreign Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, stated this while addressing the 25th SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic on Friday.

“Terrorist organizations, including TTP, BLA, ETIM and similar other affiliates, continue to recruit, train and operate from Afghan soil, under the watch and facilitation of the Afghan Taliban Regime. The enabling environment provided to terrorist organizations by the Afghan Taliban regime has been well-documented by the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team.”

He added the region is passing through an eventful time. It has always been, and continues to be, Pakistan’s desire to see a peaceful, stable, regionally integrated, and prosperous Afghanistan, which is at peace with itself and its neighbours. This is in the best interest of all SCO Member States and beyond.

Pakistan has been at the forefront of this terrorist threat, DPM Dar said, highlighting that TTP terrorists are undertaking attacks against Pakistani security forces and civilians, using Afghan soil as their base of operations.

He noted that durable peace, stability and economic development can only be achieved with the eradication of the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil. “We hope that the SCO would call upon the Afghan Taliban Regime to honour its counterterrorism commitments to the international community and fulfill its responsibilities towards global peace and security,” he urged.

Pakistan facilitated and hosted the Islamabad Talks between Iran and the United States on 10-11 April 2026, enabling the first high-level direct diplomatic contacts between the two sides after 47 years. The diplomatic process, thus initiated, culminated in the signing of the Islamabad MoU in June 2026.

Dar observed that these outstanding issues between the US and Iran can only be resolved through sustained dialogue and diplomacy.

At the same time, he warned that the region must remain vigilant against those seeking to undermine regional stability. Such actors, he said, would exploit every opportunity to derail the peace process and reverse the progress achieved. “Only by working together can we achieve our shared objective of long-term peace, stability and prosperity for the region and beyond,” Dar remarked.

He stated Pakistan looks forward to assuming the Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of States (CHS) in September this year, and hosting the Summit in 2027.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026