{"id":69071,"date":"2026-10-01T12:25:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T12:25:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=69071"},"modified":"2026-10-01T13:08:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T13:08:59","slug":"afghan-predicament-and-trajectory-to-peace-mushahid-says-core-issue-is-terrorism-regional-diplomacy-not-war-is-way-forward-region-victim-of-geopolitics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/afghan-predicament-and-trajectory-to-peace-mushahid-says-core-issue-is-terrorism-regional-diplomacy-not-war-is-way-forward-region-victim-of-geopolitics\/","title":{"rendered":"Afghan Predicament and Trajectory to Peace : Mushahid says core issue is terrorism: Regional Diplomacy, not war, is way forward, Region victim of geopolitics"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69072\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Mushahid-Afghan-Conference.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"337\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Mushahid-Afghan-Conference.jpg 500w, https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Mushahid-Afghan-Conference-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>Mushahid calls for Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia to collectively explore practical mechanisms for addressing the Afghan security challenge.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>ISLAMABAD, October 1: Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has called for a multi-pronged regional diplomatic approach to tackle terrorism emanating from Afghan soil as this is not merely a bilateral issue between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but a wider regional security challenge requiring a collective response from Afghanistan\u2019s neighbours.<\/p>\n<p>He has called for Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia to collectively explore practical mechanisms for addressing the Afghan security challenge.<\/p>\n<p>He made these remarks during his Keynote Concluding session at the two-day \u201cInternational Conference on Afghan Predicament and Trajectory to Peace\u201d, organised by the International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC) in Islamabad. Senator Mushahid Hussain said Pakistan and Afghanistan could no longer afford further conflict, confrontation and instability in the region.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoth sides, including the Afghan side, accepted that the core issue dividing Pakistan and Afghanistan is the issue of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil, which is destabilising not only Pakistan but other neighbours of Afghanistan as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Mushahid Hussain said the central conclusion of the Islamabad Conference reflected the vision and philosophy of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who in his poems 100 years ago, linked peace in Afghanistan with peace in the region and Asia, while instability in Afghanistan inevitably produced instability and volatility across the region.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"IhUMwmOXIz\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/mushahid-says-9-11-promoted-greater-israel-agenda-caused-americas-decline\/\">Mushahid says 9\/11 promoted Greater Israel agenda, caused America\u2019s decline<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Mushahid says 9\/11 promoted Greater Israel agenda, caused America\u2019s decline&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/mushahid-says-9-11-promoted-greater-israel-agenda-caused-americas-decline\/embed\/#?secret=1F5fArNPzM#?secret=IhUMwmOXIz\" data-secret=\"IhUMwmOXIz\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>\u201cPeace, security and stability are indivisible and inextricably intertwined with the region, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan,\u201d he observed.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Senator Mushahid emphasised that despite differences with the regime in Kabul, Pakistan\u2019s relationship with the people of Afghanistan should remain paramount.<\/p>\n<p>Referring to the declaration adopted at the dialogue, he said a people-centric approach should ensure that links involving businessmen, traders, medical tourism and students from Afghanistan were not undermined.<\/p>\n<p>He recalled that Pakistan had been a generous host to Afghan refugees for four decades, hosting the largest number of refugees for the longest duration, adding that the historical and people-to-people bonds, particularly trade and education, between the two countries should not be allowed to suffer because of political differences.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Mushahid Hussain also referred to recent remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi describing Pakistan and Afghanistan as \u201cinseparable brothers,\u201d saying that a similar sentiment had been conveyed by Turkish interlocutors during the Istanbul dialogue.<br \/>\nSenator Mushahid Hussain said there were indications of a possible opening from Kabul.<\/p>\n<p>Referring to Pakistani journalists who had recently returned from Kabul, he said the journalists had informed about meeting with Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani.<br \/>\n\u201cAccording to these journalists, there is a glimmer of hope from the regime in Kabul. The regime is keen to find some way forward. They recognise the problem of terrorism and want to establish some mechanism with Pakistan to take this issue forward through dialogue and resolve it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>He stressed that Afghanistan\u2019s security situation had implications extending well beyond Pakistan.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is not simply an issue between Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is a regional security issue,\u201d he said, noting that terrorism and violent extremism emanating from Afghanistan would impact Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia as there were Kabul-based militant groups targeting these countries as well.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Mushahid Hussain pointed towards the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) as an existing institutional mechanism that could contribute to addressing the regional security challenges emanating from Afghanistan. There was also a proposal from Russian Professor Vladimir Sotnikov for a Peace Board comprising Russia and all 6 neighbours of Afghanistan to work out a collective counter terrorism strategy against terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"ZxEhQGMO0j\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/world-peace-forum-in-china-hails-pakistan-regional-role-mushahid-says-western-led-global-order-unraveling-due-to-double-standards\/\">World Peace Forum in China hails Pakistan regional role, Mushahid says: \u201cWestern-led global order unraveling due to double standards\u201d<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;World Peace Forum in China hails Pakistan regional role, Mushahid says: \u201cWestern-led global order unraveling due to double standards\u201d&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/world-peace-forum-in-china-hails-pakistan-regional-role-mushahid-says-western-led-global-order-unraveling-due-to-double-standards\/embed\/#?secret=8l2WfFWme1#?secret=ZxEhQGMO0j\" data-secret=\"ZxEhQGMO0j\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Senator Mushahid Hussain cautioned against allowing the region to become embroiled in another cycle of conflict, especially after the failed wars of aggression of India against Pakistan and US and Israel against Iran.<\/p>\n<p>He argued that Pakistan and the wider region had been affected by geopolitical competition since 9\/11 and urged regional countries to learn from the consequences of the post-9\/11 period.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>Referring to the US intervention in Afghanistan, he said the United States had spent, according to US Brown University research study, approximately $2.2 trillion in Afghanistan between October 7, 2001 and August 15, 2021, a whopping cost of $ 100 million a day for 20 years, while leaving behind large quantities of weapons and ammunition worth over $ 7 billion which was unfortunately being used against Pakistan by the Afghan-based terrorists..<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>He said the experience demonstrated the need for regional countries to avoid becoming trapped in another prolonged conflict.<\/p>\n<p>He maintained that the peoples of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran were all victims of geopolitics, and now is the time for Afghanistan to be part of the solution, rather than remaining part of the problem,<\/p>\n<p>Senator Mushahid Hussain said sustainable peace in Afghanistan was also essential for Pakistan\u2019s vision to emerge as a hub of regional connectivity.<\/p>\n<p>He said Pakistan was seeking to expand regional linkages through trade, economy, energy, ports, pipelines, roads and railways, connecting Pakistan with Central Asia, Iran, T\u00fcrkiye and Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"m4pESb18xq\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/chairman-maos-50th-anniversary-mushahid-lauds-mao-as-architect-of-pak-china-friendship-builder-of-new-china-says-china-is-pivot-of-pakistan-foreign-policy\/\">Chairman Mao\u2019s 50th Anniversary : Mushahid lauds Mao as &#8221; Architect of Pak-China friendship, builder of new China &#8221; | Says &#8220;China is Pivot of Pakistan Foreign Policy&#8221;<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Chairman Mao\u2019s 50th Anniversary : Mushahid lauds Mao as &#8221; Architect of Pak-China friendship, builder of new China &#8221; | Says &#8220;China is Pivot of Pakistan Foreign Policy&#8221;&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/chairman-maos-50th-anniversary-mushahid-lauds-mao-as-architect-of-pak-china-friendship-builder-of-new-china-says-china-is-pivot-of-pakistan-foreign-policy\/embed\/#?secret=FjkihxGnH1#?secret=m4pESb18xq\" data-secret=\"m4pESb18xq\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>He also highlighted the role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Pakistan\u2019s broader regional connectivity vision.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe main stumbling block is the situation in Afghanistan,\u201d he said, stressing that peace and stability in Afghanistan were prerequisites for unlocking the full potential of regional economic connectivity.<\/p>\n<p>Senator Mushahid Hussain appreciated the organisers and participants for holding what he described as a frank and democratic discussion on Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>He said the International Conference in Islamabad had been a productive, \u201cfirst-of-its-kind\u201d initiative focusing on Afghanistan\u2019s relations with Pakistan and other neighbours to find possible ways forward. He noted that Senator Sitara Ayaz, who, as Secretary General of IPC hosted the conference, had accompanied him to participate twice in a Track 1.5 Dialogue in Istanbul with Afghan counterparts , organised with the facilitation of Turkish friends.<\/p>\n<p>The two-day dialogue brought together Pakistani and foreign parliamentarians, diplomats, academics and experts to deliberate on Afghanistan\u2019s security situation, Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, regional stability, connectivity, reconciliation and possible pathways towards peace.<\/p>\n<p>Delegates from China, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan\u2019s Diaspora took part in the Conference, which was largely attended.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"gc7Fa76JKD\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/pakistan-in-the-world-march-april-2026\/\">Pakistan in the World \u2013 March \/ April 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Pakistan in the World \u2013 March \/ April 2026&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/pakistan-in-the-world-march-april-2026\/embed\/#?secret=Fo619roHM6#?secret=gc7Fa76JKD\" data-secret=\"gc7Fa76JKD\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mushahid calls for Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia to collectively explore practical mechanisms for addressing the Afghan security challenge. ISLAMABAD, October 1: Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has called for a multi-pronged regional diplomatic approach to tackle terrorism emanating from Afghan soil as this is not merely a bilateral issue between Pakistan and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":69072,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[1774,162,697,4444,3692,251,4443,48,542],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69071"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69071"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69076,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69071\/revisions\/69076"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}