NEW YORK: Pakistan has called on Muslim nations to step up humanitarian support for Afghanistan and urged the Taliban authorities to take concrete, verifiable action against terrorism.
“The OIC Group must advocate for adequate funding by the international donors to meet Afghanistan’s humanitarian aid requirements without any political considerations,” Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in his speech at the inaugural session of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Afghanistan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Contact Group was formed in December 2021 at an extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad, convened after the Taliban takeover of Kabul.
Speaking at the forum, Dar emphasised that Afghanistan—after nearly five decades of conflict—is in a phase of relative peace but continues to face a crippling array of crises, including sanctions, terrorism, narcotics trade, poverty, and international isolation.
Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister at the Inaugural Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan
🔗⬇️https://t.co/ALHjhCh8RE pic.twitter.com/9Sw5frmF5V— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 24, 2025
“A political stalemate and lack of Afghanistan’s integration with the international community cannot continue indefinitely,” he stated. “As fellow OIC members, regional partners and neighbors, we must use this platform to take initiatives that can help pull Afghanistan out of its isolation.”
Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister at the Inaugural Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Afghanistan
🔗⬇️https://t.co/ALHjhCh8RE pic.twitter.com/9Sw5frmF5V— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) September 24, 2025
Pakistan outlines comprehensive roadmap
In his address, Dar outlined a six-point agenda for the OIC Contact Group to help Afghanistan stabilise and reintegrate with the global community.
Calling on Muslim nations to play a proactive role, he stressed the urgency of mobilising humanitarian aid for the Afghan people. He urged international donors to provide assistance without attaching political conditions, warning that the suffering of ordinary Afghans must not be politicised or ignored.
He stressed the need to revive Afghanistan’s banking sector and stabilise its economy to enable trade, reduce unemployment, and facilitate the implementation of long-stalled regional connectivity projects.
He also called for constructive engagement with the Taliban authorities at both regional and multilateral levels. Dar argued that continued dialogue is essential to encourage the Taliban’s adherence to international obligations and to avoid further isolation of the country.
The growing issue of narcotics was another focus, with Pakistan backing UN-led initiatives aimed at helping former poppy cultivators transition to sustainable livelihoods. He highlighted the need for long-term support to ensure these alternative programs are viable and effective.
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister urged the Taliban to lift restrictions on women and girls—particularly in education and employment—describing these curbs as unjustified and inconsistent with Islamic principles and the values of Muslim societies.
Finally, he drew attention to the prolonged displacement of Afghan refugees, many of whom reside in neighboring countries. He called on the Afghan interim government to create safe and dignified conditions for their return and reintegration, while also appealing to the international community to share the burden of resettlement.
Rising threat of terrorism
Expressing serious concerns, the Pakistani official highlighted the presence of over two dozen terrorist groups operating within Afghanistan, including the TTP, BLA, Majeed Brigade, and ETIM—many of which are in collaboration with Al-Qaeda.
“Our law enforcement officials and civilians continue to make enormous sacrifices,” he said. “Earlier this month, 12 Pakistani soldiers were martyred while combating TTP infiltrators from across the border.”
He warned that terrorist groups are also exploiting digital platforms for propaganda and incitement to violence, and urged the Afghan interim authorities to take “concrete and verifiable action to prevent their soil from being used for terrorism, particularly against Pakistan.”
Proposal for Expert Working Group
To ensure coordinated and sustained progress, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister proposed the establishment of a working group of experts from OIC member states to develop a practical, reciprocal roadmap addressing the full spectrum of Afghanistan’s challenges.
“No country desires to see normalcy and stability return to Afghanistan more than Pakistan. Our destinies are intertwined,” he said, reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.
