Tarar Urges Afghan Interim Government to Prioritise Peace and Public Welfare

ISLAMABAD: (Mudassar Iqbal) – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has called for a sustainable resolution of the situation in Afghanistan, reiterating that Pakistan supports peace, dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

Addressing an event in Islamabad on Afghanistan’s situation and prospects for peace, Tarar said the issue was complex and required a long-term approach based on negotiations and regional cooperation.

He said Pakistan had dispatched several high-level delegations to Afghanistan to address outstanding issues, while discussions had also been held in Istanbul and Doha. He reiterated Islamabad’s support for negotiations aimed at reaching a mutually acceptable and friendly resolution.

Tarar said Afghanistan’s interim government needed to move away from a militant mindset and adopt the approach of a responsible state. He stressed that a change in approach was necessary to address the country’s challenges and achieve lasting peace.

Expressing concern over the presence of terrorist safe havens and members of banned organisations in Afghanistan, the minister said Pakistan wanted peace but its commitment to peaceful coexistence should not be interpreted as weakness.

“Attempts to destabilise Pakistan have been and will continue to be responded to,” Tarar said, reaffirming the country’s commitment to safeguarding its security.

Highlighting Afghanistan’s economic potential, he said peace could create opportunities for regional trade, investment and connectivity. He noted that Afghanistan could provide Central Asian countries with access to warm-water ports, while improved links with Karachi and Gwadar had long been a regional objective.

Tarar said stable conditions in Afghanistan could facilitate trade routes between Central Asia and Pakistan, support economic growth and strengthen regional cooperation.

Discussing Afghanistan’s social and economic challenges, the minister noted that young people accounted for a significant proportion of the population, while many Afghan women remained excluded from the workforce. He said sections of society were not being provided adequate opportunities to contribute to economic development.

He also raised concerns about restrictions on the basic rights of some segments of the Afghan population, stressing that citizens should have access to education, freedom of assembly and association, and economic opportunities.

Tarar said a significant gap existed between the Afghan people and the interim government. He emphasised that Afghans should have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their future.

The minister urged the interim government to prioritise public welfare and work towards a peaceful and prosperous future. He said building consensus within Afghanistan and enabling citizens to participate in shaping their future were essential for lasting stability.

Reaffirming the importance of peaceful coexistence, Tarar said countries across the region should respect one another’s right to live in peace. He maintained that peace was fundamental to prosperity and that stability in Afghanistan could support development throughout the region.

He reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to resolving outstanding issues with Afghanistan through dialogue and negotiations, with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable and friendly settlement.