Pakistan urges Afghanistan to curb militancy, says it could unlock regional trade

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday said preventing militant groups from using Afghan territory to launch attacks would create significant opportunities for regional trade, connectivity, and economic development.

Speaking at the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila, the Philippines, Dar said militant groups operating from Afghanistan continue to pose a serious security challenge to the region.

“The threat posed by terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil continues to pose a serious security challenge facing our entire region,” he said.

Dar alleged that Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) continue to exploit Afghan territory to carry out attacks against Pakistan.

“Pakistan has only one expectation from the Afghan Taliban regime: Do not allow Afghan territory to be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other neighboring country,” he said.

Dar said that if the Islamic Emirate fulfilled what he described as its repeated commitments to prevent Afghan territory from being used by militant groups, the region stood to benefit from greater economic cooperation.

“If they are able to honor these commitments and fulfill their repeated promises, there will be immense opportunity for trade, connectivity and socio-economic development across South Asia, Central Asia and beyond,” he said.

Addressing fellow participants at the ASEAN Regional Forum, Dar urged member states to support efforts aimed at ensuring that no country’s territory is used to threaten regional peace and security.

The Islamic Emirate has consistently rejected Pakistan’s allegations that militant groups operate from Afghan territory and has repeatedly stated that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used to threaten the security of any other country.