By Asghar Ali Mubarak
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has warned that a fresh wave of terrorism is emerging from Afghan soil and urged the international community to press the Afghan authorities to fulfil their responsibilities, as Pakistan and its neighbors face mounting security risks. Speaking at the World Peace Forum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Sharif said the peaceful resolution of disputes remained the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, but warned that rising militancy posed a serious threat to regional stability. He said Afghanistan had once again become a sanctuary for terrorist groups, with the consequences being felt most acutely by Pakistan. He welcomed the United Nations’ decision to designate 2025 as the International Year of Peace and Trust, calling it timely amid global uncertainty and conflict.
The prime minister said Pakistan continued to play an active role in international efforts to promote peace, including diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East. Sharif said Pakistan had supported the Gaza peace plan and thanked Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran for their cooperation in securing a ceasefire, describing it as fragile but vital. Referring to UN security council resolution 2788, Sharif said the resolution reflected Pakistan’s vision for a sustained ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. As a member of the Group of Eight Arab and Islamic countries, he said Pakistan would continue to support efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering of civilians and advancing a political solution.
“Sustainable peace and sustainable development are inseparable,” he said, adding that without peace, reconstruction and recovery would remain elusive. Sharif also highlighted Pakistan’s climate agenda, describing the country’s clean and green development initiatives as a model for others. He said climate change, inequality and poverty were interconnected challenges facing developing countries and required collective international solutions. Financial inclusion and the economic empowerment of women, he said, were among his government’s key priorities. He called for fair and non-discriminatory access to advanced and digital technologies, warning that technological divides risked deepening global inequality.
The prime minister urged world leaders to move away from zero-sum thinking and towards cooperation, saying that connectivity should not be limited to trade routes but should serve as bridges between people, ideas and cultures. He praised Turkmenistan’s leadership for its role in promoting peace through neutrality and said dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable means of resolving conflicts. “Peace, mutual trust and shared prosperity are our common destination,” Sharif said, warning that hatred and prolonged conflicts had pushed the world towards instability. Earlier, Sharif visited Turkmenistan’s Neutrality Monument in Ashgabat, laying flowers alongside other world leaders. Russian president Vladimir Putin, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkmenistan’s president Serdar Berdimuhamedow were also present.
The monument symbolizes Turkmenistan’s policy of permanent neutrality, which marks its 30th anniversary this year. Sharif is on a two-day visit to Turkmenistan to attend events marking the International Year of Peace and Trust and the International Day of Neutrality. Pakistan’s warning in Ashgabat echoes concerns it has repeatedly raised at the United Nations. Islamabad has told the UN security council that terrorism originating from Afghan soil represents the “biggest threat” to its national security and sovereignty. According to UN monitoring teams, the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has around 6,000 fighters based in Afghanistan, making it the largest UN-designated terrorist organization operating there. Pakistan says it has foiled multiple infiltration attempts by militants linked to the TTP and the Balochistan Liberation Army from across the Afghan border, seizing large quantities of modern weapons left behind after the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan. Officials say terrorist groups including the TTP, al-Qaida, the BLA and the Majeed Brigades continue to enjoy safe havens in Afghanistan.
Denmark, speaking in its capacity as chair of the UN security council’s sanctions committee on ISIL and al-Qaida, has also warned that the TTP is receiving logistical and financial support from Afghan authorities, describing the group as a serious threat to regional security. Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban to take concrete and verifiable action against militant groups, warning that failure to do so would compel Islamabad to take all necessary defensive measures to protect its citizens and territory. While reaffirming its commitment to peace and dialogue, Pakistan has made clear that continued cross-border militancy is no longer tolerable and that regional stability depends on decisive action against terrorism.
(The writer is a senior journalist covering various beats, can be reached at editorial@metro-morning.com)
