Dar urges regional peace, condemns aggression at SCO Foreign Ministers' Council

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar Tuesday delivered a strongly-worded speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers' Council in Tianjin, calling for peaceful resolution of long-standing conflicts and condemning unilateral actions that destabilise the region, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking before top diplomats from across Eurasia, Dar said that any attempts to change the status of disputed territories through unilateral and illegal measures—particularly in violation of UN Security Council resolutions—must be condemned in the strongest terms.

He said that it was “deeply regrettable” that Pakistan was hastily blamed for the recent Pahalgam attack without a credible investigation or evidence, warning that the two nuclear powers had come dangerously close to conflict as a result.

“Despite the tense situation,” Dar asserted, “Pakistan adopted a cautious and responsible approach.” He criticised the response from the other side as “a series of legal violations, provocative statements, and strategic recklessness.”

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the ceasefire and long-term regional stability but cautioned that normalising the arbitrary use of force could not be accepted. “The events since April 22 have underscored a fundamental truth — sustainable peace in South Asia is only possible through the peaceful resolution of decades-old disputes.”

Turning to Afghanistan, Dar emphasised that peace and stability in the war-torn country remained a shared regional aspiration. He proposed the revival of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group as a vehicle for practical and results-oriented cooperation.

“Terrorism is a threat to all humanity,” Dar said, “and all its forms—including state terrorism—must be condemned.” He urged SCO members to abandon the use of terrorism as a political tool and instead focus on eliminating its root causes through mutual cooperation.

Dar also touched on the economic opportunities within the SCO framework, describing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the “flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).”

He called for concrete steps to improve trade and development through the SCO, including promoting the use of national currencies to reduce vulnerability to global financial shocks. He supported the idea of establishing an alternative SCO development funding mechanism to inject life into stalled projects.

In a significant diplomatic moment, Dar condemned “unjustified and illegal aggression” by Israel against Iran and criticised the United States for attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.

“Such actions against member states of the SCO are unacceptable,” he said, warning against the increasing trend of aggression being used as a tool of foreign policy.

Dar said by reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the "Shanghai Spirit" — the SCO’s founding values of mutual trust, respect, equality, and shared development. “We will continue to work together to transform the SCO into a powerful force for regional peace, connectivity, and prosperity,” he stated.