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| Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar addresses Inaugural Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan in New York, US, September 24, 2025. — X/@ForeignOfficePk |
Pakistan Urges Afghanistan to Crack Down on Cross-Border Terrorist Networks
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar addresses Inaugural Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan in New York, US, September 24, 2025. — X/@ForeignOfficePkNEW YORK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged the Afghan interim authorities on...In a bold appeal at the OIC Afghanistan forum, Pakistan’s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar urged Taliban-led Afghanistan to dismantle terror networks exploiting its territory, stressing regional security and digital propaganda risks.
When Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar stepped to the podium at the inaugural meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan in New York, his message was pointed. He called on the interim Afghan authorities to dismantle terrorist networks operating from their soil—networks he said pose a serious and growing threat to regional peace.
Dar listed over two dozen groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Majeed Brigade, and East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and warned these organizations were collaborating with al-Qaeda, deepening a crisis of cross-border militancy. The News
Borderlands on Edge
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, cross-border attacks in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces have surged.He cited a recent example: “Earlier this month, 12 Pakistani soldiers were martyred while combating TTP infiltrators along our border,” Dar revealed. The News
Digital Fronts and Propaganda
But it’s not just physical incursions that worry Islamabad. Dar emphasized that terrorist groups are increasingly leaning on social media and digital platforms to spread propaganda and incite violence. “This cannot be tolerated under any circumstances,” he said, stressing the urgency of coordinated countermeasures. The NewsA Call for a Working Group
Dar urged the OIC to form a working group consisting of counterterrorism experts, diplomats, and intelligence professionals, tasked with drafting a roadmap of reciprocal measures to address the Afghanistan-terrorism nexus. He reiterated that Pakistan’s support for Afghanistan’s stability hinges on mutual respect, sincerity, and political will from the Taliban regime. The NewsA Shared Destiny
To address these challenges, he proposed a six-point approach for OIC engagement: mobilize humanitarian funding without political bias; stabilize Afghanistan’s banking and trade systems; encourage diplomatic compliance; promote alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers; press the Taliban to lift restrictions on women and girls; and facilitate safe repatriation and reintegration of refugees. The News
FAQs
Q: Why is Pakistan pressuring Afghanistan to act on terrorism now?
A: The intensity of cross-border attacks has increased since 2021, particularly
in KP and Balochistan. Pakistan sees militant groups using Afghan territory and
digital platforms to launch attacks—and seeks concrete action from Kabul to
stop this.
Q: Which militant groups are specifically named?
A: Dar named several, including the TTP, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Majeed
Brigade, and ETIM, and stressed their connections with al-Qaeda.
Q: What is Pakistan proposing to the OIC?
A: Dar called for creation of a working group across OIC states to propose
coordinated steps. He also laid out a six-point plan to promote stability,
economic recovery, human rights, refugee return, and regional cooperation.
Q: What role does digital propaganda play in this conflict?
A: Terrorist groups are leveraging social media and online platforms to spread
extremist narratives, recruit, and incite violence. Dar warned that unchecked
propaganda is a new frontline and must be addressed.
Q: How does Afghanistan benefit from cooperation?
A: Dar argued that sustainable peace, economic stability, and global recognition of Afghanistan depend on decisive actions to combat terrorism, attract aid, and rebuild institutions.