ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has stressed the need for concrete and verifiable action to prevent Afghan soil from being used for terrorism against neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan. He was addressing the meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Afghanistan on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
DPM Dar expressed serious concern over the presence of terrorist groups inside Afghanistan and re-called the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in combating terrorism.
He highlighted the recent terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat, which claimed innocent lives and left scores of others injured, terming it a stark reminder of the grave threat posed by terror-ism emanating from the region.
He said such attacks underscored the urgent need for concrete action against terrorist groups and their sanctuaries.
The deputy prime minister urged the Afghan Taliban to honour Afghanistan’s international obliga-tions and commitments, end patronage of terrorist groups, and lift restrictions on women and girls that are contrary to Islamic principles and the norms of Muslim society.
He also called upon the Afghan authorities to promote politically inclusive governance and facilitate the resettlement and integration of Afghan returnees.
DPM Dar further called for adequate international funding to meet Afghanistan’s humanitarian re-quirements and support its socio-economic development.
Reiterating Pakistan’s consistent policy, he affirmed the country’s support for a stable and prosperous Afghanistan that is at peace with itself and its neighbours.
Dar is in New York as part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The prime minister arrived in the US city late Monday and is scheduled to address the General As-sembly on September 25, accompanied by Dar, federal ministers and senior government officials.
The Pakistani delegation has also held a series of meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA, covering bilateral ties, regional security and other diplomatic matters. –Agencies
