Says sustainable economic development can not be guaranteed without durable peace, security in region
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar addresses the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on October 20, 2026. PHOTO: ForeignOffice/X
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (FM) Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said that Pakistan had “only one expectation from the Afghan Taliban regime: that Afghan territory must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country.”
“Pakistan continues to be desirous of a peaceful, stable, regionally-integrated and prosperous Afghanistan which is at peace with itself and all 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 the Afghan territory must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country,” FM Dar said during the narrow-format session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The foreign minister stated that sustainable economic development could not be guaranteed without durable peace and security in the region, noting that “ensuring stability in Afghanistan is imperative for safeguarding peace and stability of our region.”
“Pakistan remains committed to a peaceful and stable neighbourhood,” he said, describing this as “an essential foundation for regional development and prosperity.”
FM Dar shares priority areas
Regarding the SCO, FM Dar stated that over the past 25 years, the organisation had “remained anchored in the SCO Spirit of mutual trust and respect for diversity.” He added that the SCO had also “expanded its mandate to encompass trade, infrastructure, culture and innovation.”
“Pakistan’s journey within the SCO highlights its commitment to the Shanghai Spirit,” he stated.
FM Dar recalled that Pakistan hosted the Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad in 2024, adding that Islamabad had also successfully concluded its chairmanship of the SCO Anti-Terrorism Structure this year and, as chair of the SCO Working Group on Poverty Alleviation, shared its experiences and learned from those of others.
“This year, we intend to highlight the role of small and medium enterprises in reducing poverty,” he said.
Read: Dar warns Afghan Taliban of terrorism costs
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had unveiled Pakistan’s vision for its SCO chairmanship under the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.” He noted that the priority areas identified by Pakistan were peace, security and mutual trust; regional connectivity and trade; innovation, artificial intelligence and digital transformation; climate resilience and sustainable energy; and people-to-people exchanges.
FM Dar highlights targeted investments for ‘seamless economic integration’
“For the region to achieve seamless economic integration, targeted investments in core sectors, most notably energy and transport, are vital,” he added.
He also noted that in parallel, Pakistan “strongly advocates for expanding investments into high-potential industries including agriculture, mining, minerals and information technology to build a resilient and interconnected economic future for all our nations.”
“We firmly believe that strategic investment in transport and energy infrastructure is not merely beneficial; it is absolutely imperative for true regional economic integration,” he said.
He also noted that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor offered “every SCO partner a compelling opportunity to participate in and accelerate our shared journey towards comprehensive economic integration.”
FM Dar added that Pakistan also believed that “artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation, energy cooperation and international information security should become important pillars of future cooperation within the SCO.”
The foreign minister reiterated the need to accelerate efforts to “promote the use of national currencies for mutual settlement,” highlighting the establishment of an SCO Development Bank, an SCO Development Fund and an investment fund. “Such tools are measures which will advance developmental initiatives and help the SCO region offset international financial shocks,” he said.
Read More: DPM Dar reiterates need to eliminate terrorist threat from Afghanistan at ECO meeting
Further, FM Dar stated, “Protections, policies and unilateral coercive measures contradict the principles of international law.” He added that they “suppress economic growth, block technological progress and increase inequality,” noting that therefore, “reform of the global financial architecture and trade regimes is essential for achieving equitable global development.”
Concluding his address, the foreign minister congratulated the government of Tajikistan, the heads of the SCO’s permanent bodies, the secretary general and the director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) “on the successful completion of this year’s Council of Heads of Government meeting this year.”
He also commended the national coordinators and experts working through various SCO mechanisms, who helped finalise the documents and decisions that “will hopefully be adopted today.”
FM Dar added, “The joint communique and statements are reflective of our joint aspirations and commitments.”
“The fundamental strength of SCO is anchored not only in our deeply intertwined histories, but more importantly, in the resilient, safe future that we collectively choose to forge,” FM Dar said. He added that Pakistan stood “resolute in its commitment to serve as an active architect of this shared destiny and to shape the next decade of Eurasian connectivity and economic prosperity.”
The foreign minister also extended heartfelt congratulations to the president of Uzbekistan on taking over the chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government for 2026-27, saying “Pakistan looks forward to warmly welcoming in Islamabad the heads of state of the SCO family and their delegations for the Council of Heads of State summit in August next year.”
