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He said more than 90,000 Pakistanis had lost their lives in the war against terrorism, while the country had also suffered significant economic losses. Referring to recent incidents, including the Jaffar Express attack and militant violence in Balochistan, he said Pakistan had faced terrorism with courage, resilience, and determination
Saifullah Ansar
Islamabad, October 12, 2026: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has termed terrorism the biggest challenge facing the region and the world, stressing that terrorism originating from Afghan soil is unacceptable and that attacks against Pakistan from across the border must come to an end.
Addressing an international conference on the evolving landscape of terrorism in Pakistan, organized by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) on Monday, Dar said Pakistan has rendered unparalleled sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and called upon the international community to acknowledge and support the country’s efforts against the menace.
He said more than 90,000 Pakistanis had lost their lives in the war against terrorism, while the country had also suffered significant economic losses. Referring to recent incidents, including the Jaffar Express attack and militant violence in Balochistan, he said Pakistan had faced terrorism with courage, resilience, and determination.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that every province must play its role in combating terrorism and safeguarding citizens’ lives, property, and the national economy. He said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had adopted a comprehensive strategy to eliminate terrorism, while security forces continued to conduct daily operations against militants.
Ishaq Dar said Pakistan had repeatedly engaged with Afghanistan on security concerns and urged the Afghan authorities to ensure that their territory is not used for attacks against Pakistan. He noted that despite diplomatic engagements, including a trilateral meeting involving Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan, Islamabad’s concerns regarding militant sanctuaries remained unresolved.
He warned that the presence of banned militant groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in Afghanistan posed a serious threat to regional peace and security. He added that Pakistan had already fenced much of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to prevent cross-border infiltration by terrorists.
Commenting on the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dar said imposing emergency measures had not been an easy decision, but the government had no other option in view of the prevailing security challenges. He added that all available resources were being utilized to restore peace and eliminate terrorism in the province.
The Foreign Minister also highlighted the economic impact of protests and prolonged sit-ins, saying such activities had caused substantial damage to the national economy in the past.
Calling for international cooperation, Dar urged the global community to assist Pakistan in strengthening the capacity of its law enforcement agencies and confronting extremist threats. He reiterated that Islam does not permit extremism or terrorism and stated that those who target innocent civilians have no connection with the true teachings of the religion.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and the peaceful resolution of disputes, Dar said the country would continue working with regional and international partners to promote stability, peace, and security.
