As Pakistan grapples with a surge in militant attacks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has sought support from the United Nations to counter cross-border terrorism originating from Afghanistan.
The statement came after Deputy PM Dar met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Wednesday, Dar highlighted the issue of cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan and called for UN support in combating terrorism within and from Afghanistan.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid to millions of destitute people in Afghanistan and promoting its economic development, including through connectivity projects linking Central Asia and Pakistan via Afghanistan.
Pakistan has been facing a surge in terrorist attacks targeting law enforcement and security forces since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
According to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank, the country witnessed a sharp 42% increase in terror attacks in January 2025 compared to the previous month.
Pakistan’s Support for the UN Reaffirmed
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong support for the UN’s central role in addressing global challenges, including peace and security, development, and climate change.
He underscored Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to promoting international peace and security as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2025–2026) while emphasizing Pakistan’s long-standing dedication to multilateralism and the UN Charter, including its contributions to UN peacekeeping missions.
Dar also welcomed the UN Secretary-General’s initiative to organize the “Summit of the Future” and expressed hope that the “Pact for the Future” would be fully implemented, addressing the financial needs of developing countries to achieve SDGs and climate goals.
The statement added that the UN chief thanked the deputy premier for Pakistan’s active engagement at the United Nations and its role in maintaining international peace and security through its UN peacekeeping contributions.
Deputy PM Dar also called for a just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.
Dar is currently on a visit to New York to participate in the high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council on “Practicing Multilateralism: Reforming and Improving Global Governance,” convened by China as a signature event during its presidency of the Security Council.
