ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has called for an independent regional security architecture to promote peace and stability, saying countries in the region must take greater responsibility for their own security.
“I believe the time has come for this region to develop an independent security architecture to promote peace and stability, and take greater responsibility for our own regional peace and security,” Senator Dar said while addressing an international conference as chief guest.
The conference, titled “Pakistan’s Evolving Counterterrorism Landscape: TTP, Cross-Border Threats and Regional Security,” was organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).
In his address, Senator Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to fighting terrorism and advancing regional peace and security. He said counterterrorism in Pakistan was not merely a matter of policy debate, but a continuing story of sacrifice and valour.
Referring to Pakistan’s human and economic losses in the fight against terrorism, he said the country had paid a heavy price over the years. He also recalled his three visits to Afghanistan last year and his engagements with the Afghan Taliban authorities.
Senator Dar said Pakistan had placed only one demand before the Afghan authorities: visible, verifiable and irreversible action against the TTP and other associated terrorist groups, as well as their sanctuaries on Afghan soil.
He urged the Afghan authorities to honour their counterterrorism commitments made at Doha and to Pakistan. He also underlined the need for stronger regional and international cooperation, intelligence-sharing and collective action to deal with cross-border terrorist threats.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, in his keynote address, highlighted Pakistan’s sacrifices over the last four decades in the war against terrorism.
He urged the Afghan authorities to stop terrorist groups from operating from their soil. The minister said Pakistan remained committed to regional peace and stability, but its desire for peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
The first working session was moderated by Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad. Speaking during the session, Ambassador Abrar Hussain, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Afghanistan, highlighted the issue of militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan and the growing tactical convergence between the TTP and BLA.
He called for coordinated diplomatic engagement with Kabul involving China, Russia and Iran.
Giorgio Cafiero, CEO and founder of Gulf State Analytics, USA, observed that Gulf states wanted stability in Pakistan while maintaining engagement with Kabul. However, he said their diplomatic channels had yet to turn into meaningful leverage over the Taliban.
Naseem Zehra, anchor and security analyst, said counterterrorism efforts must also address the drivers of recruitment. She stressed the importance of legal accountability, constitutional political space and civilian-led prevention.
The second working session was moderated by Dr Shabana Fayyaz. Ambassador Asif Durrani, Pakistan’s former special representative on Afghanistan, called for sustained dialogue with Afghanistan, effective border management and protection of legitimate trade.
Professor Joseph Siracusa, professor of human security and international diplomacy at Royal Melbourne, Australia, advocated intelligence-led counterterrorism, lawful accountability and disengagement pathways. He also called for greater international recognition of Pakistan’s sacrifices.
Ambassador James Watt CVO, partner at The Ambassador Partnership LLP, London, emphasised the rule of law, state sovereignty and regional cooperation. He also referred to emerging security threats and the potential of Pakistan’s defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to support strategic coordination.
The third working session was moderated by Dr Salma Malik. Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, former foreign secretary of Pakistan, called for stronger international cooperation and effective implementation of UN sanctions to address terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
Major General Zahid Mehmood, principal of the NUST Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, cited 225 militant attacks in Pakistan in September 2026. He underscored the importance of border management and regional cooperation, while clarifying that Pakistan’s actions target terrorist infrastructure and not the Afghan people.
Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, former assistant secretary of state for political military affairs, USA, advocated pragmatic US-Pakistan counterterrorism cooperation, regional coordination and the separation of shared security interests from broader geopolitical rivalries.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, chairman of the ISSI Board of Governors, called for a comprehensive counterterrorism framework to address threats from the TTP and BLA.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace through intelligence-sharing, coordinated action, respect for sovereignty and rejection of terrorism as an instrument of strategic leverage.
The conference brought together senior policymakers, diplomats, security experts and academics from Pakistan and abroad. Participants discussed the evolving counterterrorism landscape in the region, the threat posed by terrorist groups based in Afghanistan to Pakistan and the wider region, and the need for closer and sustained cooperation among regional and international partners to counter the growing threat.
