Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to press Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to honour their counter-terrorism commitments, saying durable peace and stability in the region depended on ending terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.
Addressing the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting (SCO-CFM) in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, Dar said, “Our region is passing through an eventful time.” He noted, however, “It has always been, and continues to be, Pakistan’s desire to see a peaceful, stable, regionally integrated, and prosperous Afghanistan, which is at peace with itself and its neighbours.”
This, the foreign minister said, was in the best interest of all SCO member states and beyond.
At present, Dar said, “the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan is one of the most serious security challenges for us,” noting that terrorist organisations including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) “continue to recruit, train, and operate from Afghan soil, under the watch and facilitation of the Afghan Taliban regime.”
“The enabling environment provided to terrorist organisations by the Afghan Taliban regime has been well-documented by the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team,” the foreign minister stated.
Citing over 560 innocent Pakistani civilians martyred in over 2,000 terrorist incidents this year, Dar expressed deep concern over Afghan nationals found to be involved in these terrorist incidents.
Saying that durable peace, stability, and economic development could only be achieved “with the eradication of the menace of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil,” Dar urged the SCO to call on the Afghan Taliban regime to “honour its international counter-terrorism commitments to the international community and fulfil its responsibilities towards global peace and security.”
Video of the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic (24 July 2026) pic.twitter.com/x1k6jgTxXB
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 24, 2026
Turning to regional diplomacy, Dar said Pakistan believed “dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect provide the only sustainable way forward to resolve conflicts and achieve durable peace and security.”
Guided by this conviction, he said, Pakistan led efforts to host talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad in April, facilitating the first high-level direct diplomatic contact between the two countries in 47 years.
Describing the Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed in June 2026, as a “historic breakthrough”, the foreign minister said the agreement was made possible through Islamabad’s close engagement with both sides and intensive diplomatic outreach to regional and international partners.
Read: Why has the Iran-US ceasefire memorandum frayed?
“Pakistan deeply appreciates the trust and confidence reposed in it by both Iran and the United States in undertaking this challenging responsibility in the larger interests of peace and security,” he said, urging the international community to build on the Islamabad MoU and the ongoing US-Iran technical talks to advance lasting peace.
He also urged vigilance “against those who seek to undermine regional stability,” Dar warned that such actors “will exploit every opportunity to derail the peace process and reverse the progress achieved.” Only through working together, he said, could the shared objective of long-term peace, stability, and prosperity be achieved for the region and beyond.
Further, the foreign minister lauded the SCO, saying it has “become an anchor for regional cooperation, driving vital progress in peace, security, stability, and economic connectivity, while also simultaneously fostering deep cultural exchanges among member states,” according to an X post by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
Dar added that while celebrating the organisation’s 25th anniversary, “we underscore the enduring strength of the ‘Shanghai Spirit’.” The “foundational philosophy,” he said, “continues to guide our collective efforts through mutual trust, equality, cultural respect, shared growth, and constructive diplomacy.”
According to the foreign minister, the SCO “has successfully transitioned from a security-centric ‘Shanghai Five,’ to a comprehensive entity that integrates security, economy, development, culture, and peace among others.”
🔈 PR No. 1️⃣8️⃣7️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic (24 July 2026)
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/pF9amgfRR9
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 24, 2026
Saying that the organisation’s collaborative framework “has been vital in combating the ‘three evils’ of terrorism, separatism, and extremism,” Dar appreciated the SCO’s role “in promoting respect for international law and good neighbourliness.”
Referring to the next 25 years, he noted that the organisation must evolve to meet new and emerging challenges, with a focus on digital inclusivity, bridging the technological divide, and ensuring energy security through projects like the TAPI pipeline and the CASA-1000 regional electricity transmission.
“We must advance towards financial integration, including the use of national currencies in mutual payments, to build a resilient regional economy, independent of external shocks,” Dar added.
Reaffirming Islamabad’s “unwavering commitment to the goals and the purposes of the SCO,” Dar noted that the country viewed its membership as “a strategic partnership for regional transformation.”
The foreign minister stated that Pakistan looks forward to assuming chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State in September, and Islamabad’s hosting of the summit next year. “Pakistan will continue to advance a forward-looking and action-oriented agenda aimed at enhancing economic collaboration, promoting regional connectivity, and deepening mutual understanding among peoples,” he added.
Meanwhile, Iranian news agency Press TV, in a post on X, noted that Dar met Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the SCO-CFM.
Iran’s FM Araghchi met with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kyrgyzstan.
Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/e8E2Y7o2XU
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) July 24, 2026
Earlier, Dar met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO-CFM, exchanging views on bilateral relations, regional developments, and cooperation within multilateral forums.
According to a post on X by MoFA, Dar and his Chinese counterpart “held a warm and productive exchange of views.” The former also thanked Yi for “appreciating Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, as highlighted during his remarks at the SCO CFM.”
Yi also “conveyed best wishes to Pakistan for its upcoming chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State and hosting of the SCO summit in 2027,” MoFA said.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic.
The two leaders held a warm and productive exchange of views… pic.twitter.com/NWQ4Nv1EOL
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 24, 2026
Earlier, Dar called on the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, discussing regional and global developments, as well as the evolving role of the SCO as an important platform for cooperation.
According to MoFA, Dar met Zhaparov at his state residence in Cholpon-Ata, “conveying the warm greetings of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.”
The foreign minister “thanked President Zhaparov for the gracious hospitality extended during the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” MoFA said.
Dar also “underscored the importance of continued collaboration among SCO Member States as Pakistan prepares to assume the SCO chairmanship for 2026-27.”
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, along with the Foreign Ministers of the SCO Member States, called on the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Mr. Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, at the State Residence of the President in Cholpon-Ata… pic.twitter.com/sexZH2scqp
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 24, 2026
In an earlier post on X, MoFA stated that Dar “is participating in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan,” joining fellow foreign ministers of the SCO member states for the traditional family photograph ahead of the meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 is participating in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, today. He joined fellow Foreign Ministers of the SCO Member States for the traditional family photograph… pic.twitter.com/l0EDKploEP
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 24, 2026
Dar departed for the Kyrgyz Republic yesterday to attend the meeting after concluding a visit to Manila. According to MoFA, Dar was invited by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev, leading the Pakistani delegation for the SCO-CFM meeting scheduled for July 23-24.
The foreign ministers of SCO member states, including Pakistan, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, would participate in the CFM meeting, MoFA had announced.
The CFM is the third-highest forum in the SCO format. It focuses on the issues of international relations, as well as the foreign and security policies of the SCO.
Dar participated in the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meeting in Manila, Philippines, yesterday, before he departed for Cholpon-Ata in the Kyrgyz Republic.
He also held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ahead of the ARF Ministerial Meeting and “reviewed Pakistan-Russia bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, and other key areas, as well as enhancing coordination at multilateral forums,” MoFA had stated.
At the ARF meeting, Dar urged the international community not to let the recent diplomatic gains in the Gulf go to waste, saying “we must not let this opportunity slip through our hands”, as he called for sustained dialogue to secure lasting peace, according to MoFA.
Addressing the meeting, Dar said the recent developments in the Gulf had affected countries across the region and stressed that Pakistan had done “everything within its capacity” to help restore peace and stability.
“We cannot afford to ignore these developments,” he said.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneWeb DeskRead More