Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar says Pakistan is ready to expand cooperation manifold, if Afghanistan takes concrete and verifiable action against terrorists operating from its soil. He was giving a roundup of his international engagements to media persons at a news conference in Islamabad this evening.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward, and Pakistan’s sincerity in resolving issues with Afghanistan is beyond any doubt. He highlighted his three visits to Kabul between April and August this year as evidence of Pakistan’s commitment to fostering good relations with Afghanistan.

Ishaq Dar noted that issues like terrorism cannot be resolved single-handedly by any country; they require cooperation and unity of effort. He mentioned that Pakistan is considering the request received from the United Nations to allow humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, with the aim to deliver essential food relief. However, he also pointed out that the situation of Afghan-backed terrorist incidents in Pakistan, which have resulted in the loss of innocent lives, cannot be overlooked.

In response to a question about Pakistan potentially becoming part of the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan will not join the Force unless its mandate or Terms of Reference are clearly defined.