Dar tells SCO Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan

Pakistan has only one expectation from the Afghan Taliban: that Afghan territory is not used for terrorism against Pakistan and the world, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Dushanbe on Tuesday.

Addressing the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government in the Tajik capital, Dar said sustainable economic development could not be guaranteed without durable peace and security in the region, according to the text of his statement released by the Foreign Office.

“Ensuring stability in Afghanistan is imperative for safeguarding peace and stability of our region,” Dar said. “Pakistan continues to be desirous of a peaceful, stable, regionally integrated and prosperous Afghanistan, which is at peace with itself and its neighbours. We have made sincere efforts to support Afghanistan’s development and the well-being of its people.”

“In return, Pakistan has only one expectation from the Afghan Taliban regime: that Afghan territory should not be used for terrorism against Pakistan and the world,” he said.

CPEC open to all

Dar said targeted investment in energy and transport was vital for the region’s economic integration, and that Pakistan wanted more investment in agriculture, mining and minerals, and information technology.

“The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) offers every SCO partner a compelling opportunity to participate in and accelerate our shared journey toward comprehensive economic integration,” he said.

He said artificial intelligence, digital transformation, energy cooperation and international information security should become important pillars of future SCO cooperation.

Pakistan’s plans as chair

Pakistan holds the SCO chairmanship and will host the Council of Heads of State summit in Islamabad in August next year. Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had set the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity”, with five priorities:

• Peace, security and mutual trust
• Regional connectivity and trade
• Innovation, artificial intelligence and digital transformation
• Climate resilience and sustainable energy
• People-to-people exchanges

A warning on protectionism

Dar called for faster progress on using national currencies for trade between member states, and on setting up an SCO Development Bank, an SCO Development Fund and an investment fund, which he said would help the region withstand international financial shocks.

“Protectionist policies and unilateral coercive measures contradict the principles of international law,” he said. “These suppress economic growth, block technological progress and increase inequality.” He said reform of the global financial architecture and trade regimes was essential.

A warm welcome in Dushanbe

Earlier, Tajik Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda welcomed Dar and other heads of delegation, and they called on President Emomali Rahmon, who stressed the importance of regional economic cooperation under the SCO “to promote connectivity, stability and shared prosperity”, the Foreign Office said, Dawn reported.

The Council of Heads of Government is the SCO’s second-highest decision-making body, guiding economic, trade and connectivity cooperation and the organisation’s budget. Dar will also hold meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines.

Dar congratulated Uzbekistan’s prime minister on taking over the council’s chair for 2026-27. Pakistan hosted the council in Islamabad in 2024, and this year completed its chairmanship of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

Why it matters

By raising Afghanistan at the SCO, whose members include Russia and China, Pakistan is pressing regional powers to back its demand that the Taliban stop attacks on Pakistan from Afghan soil. Read our reports on Russia’s offer to ease Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions and on Pakistan’s preparations for the SCO summit.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn and the Foreign Office.