Dar shares terrorism concerns with OIC, meets Muttaqi in Turkiye  

By Tahir Khan

ISLAMABAD: A day after reiterating Pakistan’s concerns over terrorism and the presence of armed groups in Afghanistan, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met with Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Istanbul, Turkiye, and discussed ways to boost relations.

This was the third meeting between the two in three months, following Islamabad’s announcement to up-grade diplomatic ties with Kabul to the level of ambassador.

“We noted meaningful progress in bilateral cooperation since my visit to Kabul in April 2025, especially in trade, transit, and connectivity; and reaffirmed our shared resolve to further strengthen political & economic ties,” Ishaq Dar said after the meeting.

TRILATERAL MEETING

He recalled outcome of the recent trilateral meeting in Beijing in May, and welcomed the extension of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan as a positive development for the future of regional connectivity.

On its part, the Afghan foreign ministry said the two sides discussed bilateral relations, regional projects, and bilateral trade and transit.

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The Afghan foreign ministry’s deputy spokesman, Hafiz Zia Takkal, said Muttaqi expressed the hope that with the increase in the level of diplomatic relations between the two countries, practical cooperation in bilateral relations will further expand.

“The Pakistani foreign minister also stressed that the two countries can make practical progress on major projects such as the development of the Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan railway line project,” the Afghan spokesman said in a statement received here. 

“The meeting also discussed the upcoming dialogue between the foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China, which will be held in Kabul.”

CONCERNS OVER MILITANT GROUPS IN AFGHANISTAN

On Saturday, Ishaq Dar renewed Pakistan’s concerns at the presence of armed groups on Afghan soil in his statement at the 51st Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

“Groups such as TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and ISIL-K (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan) operate from our neighbouring territory, with support from foreign hostile agencies, launching cross-border attacks against our people,” Dar stated in a veiled reference to Afghanistan.

“These attacks are not isolated, but part of a systematic campaign of state-enabled terrorism,” he said,

He added, “Pakistan has made immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. Despite this, externally sponsored terrorism continues to inflict human as well as material losses to Pakistan.”

He called for the OIC’s solidarity in this regard and said Pakistan, like in the past, will take all necessary strong measures to defend its people and territory.

“The OIC must call for accountability from states that sponsor such violence. And the UN sanctions regime must be reformed to ensure fair and effective targeting of all forms of terrorism,” Dar insisted.

The deputy prime minister underlined Afghanistan’s remains critical to regional peace and that Pakistan seeks continued humanitarian support for the Afghan people, unfreezing of assets, and regional connectivity to restore stability.

“We remain actively engaged with the Afghan Interim Government diplomatically and have recently upgraded our diplomatic Mission in Kabul to ambassadorial level.”

​Dar also urged the Afghan interim government to fulfil its commitments on counterterrorism and human rights, particularly respect for the rights of women and girls.   

The Taliban government has banned girls’ education above 6th grade after they took control of the country in Aug 2021.