NEW YORK: Pakistan has urged Afghan interim authorities to take decisive and verifiable measures against terrorist groups operating from their soil. Speaking at the inaugural session of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister expressed grave concern over the presence of more than two dozen militant outfits, including TTP, BLA, ETIM, and the Majeed Brigade, which continue to coordinate with Al-Qaeda and threaten regional stability.
He noted that Pakistan’s security forces and civilians have borne heavy losses from cross-border terrorism, citing the recent martyrdom of 12 soldiers in clashes with TTP infiltrators. He stressed that propaganda and incitement through digital platforms by these groups also require urgent counteraction.
The minister proposed forming a working group of experts within the OIC to develop a practical roadmap with reciprocal steps for progress. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan, emphasising the need for mutual respect and political will from Kabul.
The address outlined key priorities: securing humanitarian funding, stabilising Afghanistan’s economy and banking system, advancing regional connectivity projects, and supporting UN-led efforts to provide alternative livelihoods to ex-poppy farmers. He also called for lifting restrictions on women and girls, facilitating the return of Afghan refugees, and breaking Afghanistan’s isolation through dialogue and constructive engagement.
He underlined that Afghanistan’s stability is essential not only for its own people but also for regional peace and prosperity.
