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• Says Pakistan enhancing trade, rail corridor initiatives with Afghanistan to improve regional connectivity with Central Asia
• Notes Islamabad now enjoys stronger global relationships, including with US and China
UNITED NATIONS: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said Pakistan received “recent assurances” from Afghan authorities that the neighbouring country’s soil would not be used for terrorism — a key issue of contention between Islamabad and Kabul.
Referring to regional developments, he emphasised Pakistan’s outreach to Afghanistan, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity through trade and rail corridors to Central Asia.
He stressed that Pakistan expects Afghan soil not to be used for terrorism and mentioned the assurances received from Afghan authorities in this regard.
During a nearly two-hour interaction with the Pakistani community at the Pakistan Consulate in New York, Mr Dar stated that Pakistan is experiencing a significant positive shift in its global standing, having emerged from a period of isolation and now witnessing economic revival.
“We have made considerable progress, especially in the political and economic fields, over the past three years despite facing heavy odds — we are indeed a resilient nation,” he told the gathering.
The deputy prime minister, who earlier in the day returned from Washington D.C., told the slogan-chanting audience that his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday was held in a cordial atmosphere.
“The meeting went very well. We discussed key global and regional issues”, he said, hoping that US-Pak ties would be further strengthened.
He asserted that Pakistan is no longer isolated and now enjoys strong friendships within the international community. He cited recent high-level meetings with officials from China, the US, and several other countries, focusing on economic and strategic partnerships, as evidence of this progress.
He painted an optimistic picture of Pakistan’s economic trajectory, noting a significant drop in inflation from 40 per cent to 2.4pc as of January 2025 as evidence of effective government policies and robust diplomatic efforts.
Noting Pakistan’s ongoing economic recovery, he cited the successful completion of the IMF programme, reduced inflation, and restored investor confidence, a fact the global credit rating agencies have acknowledged.
He expressed appreciation for the contributions of the Pakistani-American community to both Pakistan and the United States, acknowledging their vital role in strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing Pakistan’s global image.
Mr Dar also highlighted Pakistan’s active engagement on the multilateral front, particularly its current presidency of the United Nations Security Council, secured with the support of 182 countries — reflecting the international community’s confidence in Pakistan’s principled diplomacy.
He noted that Pakistan will continue to work for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui who is incarcerated in an American prison, citing a series of steps already taken in this regard.
Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2025
