Mushahid Hussain urges regional anti-terror strategy

Former senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has called for a coordinated regional strategy to address terrorism originating from Afghan territory, saying the issue has implications far beyond relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Speaking at the concluding session of a two-day international conference on Afghanistan in Islamabad, Sayed said Pakistan and Afghanistan could not afford another cycle of confrontation, instability and conflict.

He said terrorism emanating from Afghan soil had emerged as a broader regional security concern affecting several neighbouring countries. He called for Afghanistan’s neighbours to work together on practical measures to counter militant threats and promote long-term stability.

Sayed said discussions between Pakistani and Afghan representatives had identified terrorism as a major issue affecting bilateral relations. He added that recent contacts with Afghan officials suggested there could be room for dialogue and the development of a mechanism to address security concerns.

The former senator stressed that Pakistan’s ties with the Afghan people should remain separate from political differences with the authorities in Kabul. He called for continued people-to-people links, particularly in trade, education, healthcare and business.

He also proposed using existing regional platforms, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, to strengthen cooperation against militant networks.

Sayed referred to a proposal for a regional peace board involving Russia and Afghanistan’s six neighbouring countries. He said such a forum could develop a collective approach to counterterrorism and help prevent further conflict.

He warned that another prolonged conflict in the region would carry serious consequences for Pakistan, Afghanistan and other neighbouring states. He urged regional countries to draw lessons from the geopolitical developments that followed the September 11 attacks and the subsequent international intervention in Afghanistan.

Sayed further linked peace in Afghanistan with Pakistan’s plans to expand regional connectivity. He said stability was essential for developing trade, energy, transport and economic links connecting Pakistan with Central Asia, Iran, Türkiye and Afghanistan.

He also highlighted the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in Pakistan’s wider connectivity plans, saying instability in Afghanistan remained a major obstacle to unlocking the region’s economic potential.