New York: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has called for concrete and verifiable measures to prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against neighboring countries, with a particular focus on Pakistan. His remarks were made during the meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan, held on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly.

According to Radio Pakistan, Senator Dar expressed significant concern over the presence of terrorist groups within Afghanistan, recalling Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. Citing a recent terrorist attack in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, that resulted in casualties and injuries, he emphasized the urgent need for actionable measures against terrorist groups and their sanctuaries in the region.

Senator Dar urged the Afghan Taliban to fulfill Afghanistan’s international obligations, end support for terrorist factions, and lift restrictions on women and girls, which contradict Islamic principles and societal norms. He also advocated for politically inclusive governance and the resettlement and integration of Afghan returnees. Furthermore, he called for sufficient international funding to address Afghanistan’s humanitarian needs and socio-economic development.

The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting a stable and prosperous Afghanistan that maintains peace internally and with its neighbors.