ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has urged Afghanistan to assure its soil is not used against Pakistan, Pakistani state media reported on Friday, amid a surge in militancy in Pakistan’s western regions.
Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy, particularly in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province that borders Afghanistan, since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Islamabad broke down in November 2022.
Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
Dar said Pakistan shares common religion, culture and history with Afghanistan, and Islamabad would continue to provide all assistance to the landlocked neighboring country, the APP news agency reported.
“We are well wishers of Afghanistan and wished them prosperity,” he was quoted as saying. “However, we wanted assurance from the Afghan authorities that their soil will be not used against Pakistan.”
The statement came as Pakistani security forces killed six TTP militants in an intelligence-based operation in the restive KP province, according to the Pakistani military.
The TTP has stepped up its attacks and frequently targeted security forces, convoys and police check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
Dar was of the view that the United States and allied forces withdrawal from Afghanistan should not have left behind weapons and ammunition, which came in access of militant outfits.
“Pakistan would retaliate to an attack from any neighboring country,” he said.
Islamabad urges Afghanistan to assure its soil is not used against Pakistan
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Islamabad urges Afghanistan to assure its soil is not used against Pakistan
- Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy since a fragile truce between Pakistani Taliban, Islamabad broke down in 2022
- Islamabad has frequently blamed the rise in attacks on militant groups operating out of Afghanistan, an allegation denied by Kabul
Pakistan terms climate change, demographic pressures as ‘pressing existential risks’
- Pakistan has suffered frequent climate change-induced disasters, including floods this year that killed over 1,000
- Pakistan finmin highlights stabilization measures at Doha Forum, discusses economic cooperation with Qatar
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Saturday described climate change and demographic pressures as “pressing existential risks” facing the country, calling for urgent climate financing.
The finance minister was speaking as a member of a high-level panel at the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum, which is being held from Dec. 6–7 in the Qatari capital. Aurangzeb was invited as a speaker on the discussion titled: ‘Global Trade Tensions: Economic Impact and Policy Responses in MENA.’
“He reaffirmed that while Pakistan remained vigilant in the face of geopolitical uncertainty, the more pressing existential risks were climate change and demographic pressures,” the Finance Division said.
Pakistan has suffered repeated climate disasters in recent years, most notably the 2022 super-floods that submerged one-third of the country, displaced millions and caused an estimated $30 billion in losses.
This year’s floods killed over 1,000 people and caused at least $2.9 billion in damages to agriculture and infrastructure. Scientists say Pakistan remains among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations despite contributing less than 1 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions.
Aurangzeb has previously said climate change and Pakistan’s fast-rising population are the only two factors that can hinder the South Asian country’s efforts to become a $3 trillion economy in the future.
The finance minister noted that this year’s floods in Pakistan had shaved at least 0.5 percent off GDP growth, calling for urgent climate financing and investment in resilient infrastructure.
When asked about Pakistan’s fiscal resilience and capability to absorb external shocks, Aurangzeb said Islamabad had rebuilt fiscal buffers. He pointed out that both the primary fiscal balance and current account had returned to surplus, supported significantly by strong remittance inflows of $18–20 billion annually from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions.
Separately, Aurangzeb met his Qatari counterpart Ali Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari to discuss bilateral cooperation.
“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties, particularly by maximizing opportunities created through the newly concluded GCC–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, expanding trade flows, and deepening energy cooperation, including long-term LNG collaboration,” the finance ministry said.
The two also discussed collaboration on digital infrastructure, skills development and regulatory reform. They agreed to establish structured mechanisms to continue joint work in trade diversification, technology, climate resilience, and investment facilitation, the finance ministry said.
