• Suggested slug: dar-one-expectation-taliban-sco-dushanbe
• Category: National
• Focus keyphrase: one expectation from Taliban
• SEO title: Dar: Pakistan Has One Expectation From Taliban
• Meta description: At the SCO meeting in Dushanbe on Tuesday, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan’s sole demand of the Taliban regime is no use of Afghan soil for terrorism.
• Tags: Ishaq Dar, SCO, Afghanistan, Taliban, Pakistan foreign policy, Dushanbe, terrorism, CPEC
• Original element: Explainer context — Pakistan-Afghanistan escalation background drawn from Feature Pakistan’s own prior coverage of the border clashes, airstrikes and the Moscow format (internal links below)
• Source: The Express Tribune, https://tribune.com.pk/story/2635898/pakistan-has-one-expectation-from-taliban-regime-no-use-of-afghan-soil-for-terrorism-says-fm-dar, published 20 October 2026
• Story date: 20 October 2026 (Tuesday)

Dar Tells SCO: Pakistan Has One Expectation From Taliban Regime

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on Tuesday that Pakistan expected only one thing from the Taliban regime in Kabul: Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism.

Speaking at the narrow-format session of the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Dar said Pakistan wanted a peaceful and stable Afghanistan but would accept no compromise on cross-border terrorism.

“Pakistan continues to be desirous of a peaceful, stable, regionally-integrated and prosperous Afghanistan which is at peace with itself and all its neighbours. We have made sincere efforts to support Afghanistan’s development and the well-being of its people. In return, Pakistan has only one expectation from the Afghan Taliban regime: that the Afghan territory must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country.”

Peace as a condition for development

Dar argued that sustainable economic development could not be guaranteed without durable peace and security, adding that “ensuring stability in Afghanistan is imperative for safeguarding peace and stability of our region.”

He said “Pakistan remains committed to a peaceful and stable neighbourhood,” describing it as “an essential foundation for regional development and prosperity.”

The message lands after months of strained ties between Islamabad and Kabul. Feature Pakistan has covered the escalation, including the recent Pakistan-Afghanistan border clashes and Pakistan’s calibrated airstrikes in Afghanistan. Pakistan told the Moscow format earlier that terrorism remains at the core of Afghanistan’s problems.

SCO’s 25 years and Pakistan’s role

Dar marked 25 years of the SCO, anchored in what he called the SCO Spirit of mutual trust and respect for diversity. He noted the organisation’s mandate had expanded to trade, infrastructure, culture and innovation.

Pakistan hosted the SCO Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad in 2024, concluded its chairmanship of the SCO Anti-Terrorism Structure this year, and chairs the SCO Working Group on Poverty Alleviation.

On the economic agenda, Dar pushed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision theme of “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”

“For the region to achieve seamless economic integration, targeted investments in core sectors, most notably energy and transport, are vital,” he said. Pakistan advocates investment in agriculture, mining, minerals and IT. He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor offers “every SCO partner a compelling opportunity to participate in and accelerate our shared journey towards comprehensive economic integration.”

He named artificial intelligence, digital transformation, innovation, energy cooperation and international information security as areas that should become “important pillars of future cooperation within the SCO.”

Dar reiterated Pakistan’s push for national currencies in mutual settlement and for the establishment of an SCO Development Bank, an SCO Development Fund and an investment fund. “Such tools are measures which will advance developmental initiatives and help the SCO region offset international financial shocks,” he said.

He opposed unilateral coercive measures, saying protections, policies and unilateral coercive measures “contradict the principles of international law,” “suppress economic growth, block technological progress and increase inequality.” Reform of the global financial architecture and trade regimes was essential, he argued.

Looking ahead

Dar congratulated the president of Uzbekistan on taking over the CHG chair for 2026-27, and said Pakistan looks forward to welcoming SCO heads of state in Islamabad for the Council of Heads of State summit in August next year. Pakistan has already been deep in SCO-related preparations, and Dar has been active on the defence diplomacy front in recent weeks. The Express Tribune reported the Dushanbe address in full.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pakistan’s one expectation from the Taliban regime?

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan’s sole demand is that Afghan territory must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan or any other country.

Where and when did Dar make these remarks?

At the narrow-format session of the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Tuesday, October 20.

What economic proposals did Pakistan put forward at the SCO?

Dar pushed investment in energy, transport, agriculture, mining, minerals and IT, national currencies for mutual settlement, and new SCO financial institutions including a development bank and fund.

When will Pakistan next host an SCO summit?

Pakistan looks forward to welcoming SCO heads of state in Islamabad for the Council of Heads of State summit in August next year.