Ishaq Dar: Pakistan Committed to Cooperation with Afghanistan

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar stated that given the shared cultural, religious, and historical ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Islamabad remains committed to cooperation with the interim Afghan government.

Dar once again emphasized that the Islamic Emirate must provide assurances that Afghanistan’s territory will not be used against Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, stated: “We are neighbors, we have a common culture, we have a common religion, and we have a common history. So, we want Afghanistan to prosper and develop. It is a landlocked country. We have given all the assistance, and we will continue to provide all the assistance to Afghanistan.”
Dar also addressed the situation of Afghan refugees awaiting relocation to third countries.

According to Dar, if those countries refuse to accept the refugees, Pakistan will send them back to Afghanistan.

He said: “If it doesn’t happen and the country refuses, for us, that will be an illegal immigrant in Pakistan, and we might be forced to send such a refugee back to their country of origin, which is Afghanistan.”
The Islamic Emirate has not yet responded to Ishaq Dar’s latest statements. However, it has previously reiterated that Afghan soil is not used against other countries and, in contrast, has accused Pakistan of allowing its territory to be used against Afghanistan.

Political analyst Yusuf Amin Zazai said: “For 45 to 50 years, Pakistan has harbored terrorism, and there is overwhelming evidence of this. What is surprising is why the world turns a blind eye and why Pakistan refuses to acknowledge it. This only means one thing—the global powers and the West are backing terrorism and supporting Pakistan.”

Previously, Ishaq Dar had also stated during a United Nations Security Council meeting that despite security concerns, Islamabad would continue engagement and cooperation with the Islamic Emirate.