Pakistan’s Foreign Minister,Ishq Dar, said Islamabad is prepared to take any positive step toward supporting Afghanistan’s future but does not intend to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
Speaking at the Atlantic Council on Friday, Dar addressed regional tensions with India and the future of Pakistan’s relationship with the United States. He also responded to a question from Afghanistan International regarding Pakistan’s readiness to engage with anti-Taliban groups.
Dar referred to Pakistan’s diplomatic relations with the Taliban, noting that while Pakistan has not officially recognised the group, it has recently elevated its engagement from humanitarian coordination to full embassy-level representation. He said other countries had taken similar steps earlier.
He stated that Pakistan is open to constructive cooperation aligned with shared interests, while reiterating that the country does not seek to involve itself in the internal matters of others and expects the same in return.
In response to a question about whether Pakistan regrets its past support for the Taliban, Dar said the past remains open for discussion. He added that Pakistan has been one of the main victims of terrorism, having suffered significant human and financial losses in its efforts to combat the threat. He said those efforts may have prevented the threat from reaching the United States.
Addressing a separate question about Russia’s engagement with the Taliban, Dar said Moscow’s decision to recognise the group as Afghanistan’s government was an independent one. He added that Pakistan does not currently consider the time appropriate for formal recognition.
Dar is on an official visit to the United States, where he met with his American counterpart in Washington to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation, combating terrorism, and promoting regional peace.
