Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has requested the United Nations’ assistance in Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism, particularly the threat posed by cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan. The call for support came during a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Tuesday.
This meeting followed Dar’s address to the UN Security Council, where he urged a unified, non-discriminatory approach to tackle terrorism, condemning “double standards” in dealing with extremist threats.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Dar specifically highlighted the issue of “cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan” and emphasized the need for international support to address “terrorism within and from Afghanistan.” He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people and promoting economic development, including connectivity projects between Central Asia and Pakistan via Afghanistan.
Pakistan has repeatedly raised concerns over the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) using Afghan soil to carry out attacks within Pakistan, urging the Afghan government to take action against the group, although Kabul denies these allegations.
A recent UN report has further underscored the issue, revealing that the Afghan Taliban’s ongoing support for the TTP is exacerbating the group’s attacks on Pakistan, despite Islamabad’s growing calls for the Taliban to end their backing.
Dar reiterated that terrorism continues to be a major obstacle in strengthening Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan, describing it as a “major irritant” in their bilateral ties. Guterres acknowledged Pakistan’s contributions to global peace and security, particularly its involvement in UN Peacekeeping missions.
The Foreign Minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting the UN’s efforts to address global challenges, including peace, security, development, and climate change. He expressed support for the UN’s initiative for the Summit of the Future and highlighted the need for developing countries to meet the financing requirements necessary to achieve the SDGs and climate goals.
Dar also urged the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and condemned Israel’s actions against Palestinians, reaffirming Pakistan’s firm stance on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
