At ECO meeting, Dar voices concern over regional, Middle East security situation

At ECO session, Dar voices concern over regional, Middle East security situation.

Key points

• News Desk Published September 26, 2026 Updated September 26, 2026 09: 43pm.
• He additionally stated Pakistan was advancing the Strategic Goals of Economic Cooperation 2026-2035.
• DPM Dar additionally participated in a ministerial gathering on Jerusalem of the Joint Arab League-Group of 4 Islamic Countries (Pakistan, Türkiye, Malaysia, Indonesia).
• Convened by Jordan, the session was a follow-up to the Ministerial Gathering on Jerusalem held in Amman on Aug 5.
• He reaffirmed Pakistan's steadfast backing for the Hashemite Custodianship over the Islamic and Christian Holy Sites in Jerusalem.

News Desk Published September 26, 2026 Updated September 26, 2026 09: 43pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday expressed deep concern over the prevailing security situation in the region and the Middle East, saying Pakistan remained firmly committed to a peaceful, negotiated resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.

Speaking at the 27th informal session of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Council of Ministers in New York, Dar stated the sincerity and dedication of Pakistan's leadership had led it to engage closely with "brotherly countries and partners" to facilitate peaceful outcomes.

"These efforts have yielded tangible progress, which we must now consolidate and preserve, " he remarked.

DPM Dar remarked Pakistan remained determined to stay constructively engaged in the endeavour, adding that ECO member states must harness their collective strength to promote peace, resilience, solidarity and shared prosperity for almost half a billion individuals.

He remarked the region stood at a critical juncture, facing significant challenges alongside unprecedented opportunities. While emerging connectivity corridors offered the prospect of linking Central and South Asia and unlocking the region's economic potential, climate change was placing growing pressure on water and food security.

Dar remarked the ECO required stronger political commitment and institutional reforms to respond effectively to these challenges. He pressed a review and streamlining of the ECO Secretariat and affiliated institutions to ensure their mandates and structures remained responsive to evolving political and economic realities.

"Our shared objective must be to transform the ECO region into a more integrated, dynamic and competitive region within the Global South, " he remarked.

As chair of the ECO Council of Ministers for 2026-27, would focus particularly on trade and economic integration, connectivity and transit, trade facilitation and climate resilience, he remarked Pakistan.

According to The deputy prime minister, despite covering around eight million square kilometres and being home to almost half a billion individuals, the ECO region accounted for only around 2.2 per cent of global trade, while intra-regional trade remained approximately 8pc of total regional trade.

"These figures underscore the considerable untapped potential, " he remarked, calling for the experience of successful regional organisations to be employed to deepen economic integration.

On connectivity and transit, Dar remarked strengthening transport networks, harmonising customs procedures and improving transit systems must remain central to the ECO agenda.

He pressed the accelerated operationalisation of key corridors linking Central Asia with ports on the Arabian Sea, saying Pakistan was ready to serve as a gateway for the region by leveraging its strategic location and liberalised visa regime to facilitate the movement of residents and goods.

On trade facilitation, he remarked the ECO Trade Agreement remained an notable instrument for regional economic integration.

"We should build on the roadmap adopted by ECO trade ministers in November 2025 and move towards a functional and digitally enabled ECO Free Trade Area that expands market access, supports businesses and promotes innovation, " he remarked.

Dar additionally highlighted climate change as a serious and growing threat to water security, agriculture and livelihoods in the region.

He pressed stronger cooperation on disaster risk reduction, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable energy and adaptation.

He expressed confidence that the informal Council of Ministers session would provide fresh impetus to the regional agenda and assist translate common aspirations into practical outcomes.

As Pakistan prepares to host the 30th ECO Council of Ministers session in Islamabad in November, Dar stated Islamabad looked forward to working closely with all member states and the ECO Secretariat.

He additionally stated Pakistan was advancing the Strategic Goals of Economic Cooperation 2026-2035. It would provide a framework for regional cooperation over the coming decade.

Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister appreciated ECO Secretary General Dr Asad Majeed Khan and the ECO Secretariat for their efforts to advance the organisation's agenda.

"Pakistan regards ECO as a vital platform for regional cooperation and a cornerstone of our shared aspirations in Asia, " he remarked, adding that the task was to translate the region's collective potential into greater connectivity, deeper economic integration and shared prosperity.

Afterwards, the Foreign Office (FO) additionally shared Dar's statement issued at the session.

Dar additionally emphasised the importance of peace and stability for regional prosperity and development, saying terrorism emanating from Afghan soil undermined these efforts.

"Pakistan has always desired a peaceful, prosperous and stable Afghanistan that is fully integrated into the region and is at peace with itself and its neighbours, " he remarked, adding that this was aligned with Pakistan's foreign policy goals of peace, development and regional integration.

He remarked Pakistan had pursued and advocated constructive engagement with the Taliban regime, extending bilateral and transit trade concessions to Afghanistan and pursuing the signing of a framework agreement for a feasibility study on the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project.

"Pakistan's only expectation was for the Taliban regime to address our legitimate security concerns, " Dar remarked, adding that Islamabad anticipated concrete and verifiable action against the TTP, BLA and their affiliates. It he noted continued to threaten Pakistan's sovereignty and the lives of its citizens.

"We believe that peace and development in the region can only be achieved with the elimination of the terrorist threat from Afghanistan, " he remarked.

Dar reiterated Pakistan's concern over the continued violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and "attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Occupied East Jerusalem", FO remarked.

"There can be no ambiguity regarding the status of Occupied East Jerusalem. Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including its Holy Sites, " Dar remarked.

Notably, the deputy premier voiced Pakistan's unwavering backing for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and for the establishment of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

In short, at ECO meeting, Dar voices concern over regional, Middle East security situation is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.