ISLAMABAD: Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has called for a multi-pronged regional diplomatic approach involving a seven-nation coalition to address security challenges and cross-border instability linked to Afghanistan.

He advocated for prioritising civilian linkages and replacing wartime narratives with active regional diplomacy to ensure regional connectivity and stability. He stressed a collective response from Afghanistan’s neighbours, including Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Russia to explore practical mechanisms for addressing the Afghan security challenge.

He made these remarks during his keynote presentation at an “International conference on Afghan predicament and trajectory to peace”, organised by the International Parliamentarians Congress (IPC) here on Thursday. Mr Sayed said Pakistan and Afghanistan could no longer afford further conflict, confrontation and instability in the region.

He said sustainable peace in Afghanistan was also essential for Pakistan’s vision to emerge as a hub of regional connectivity. Pakistan is seeking to expand regional linkages through trade, economy, energy, ports, pipelines, roads and railways, connecting Pakistan with Central Asia, Iran, Türkiye and Afghanistan, he added.

Pakistan and Afghanistan can no longer afford further conflict, confrontation and instability in region, says Mushahid Hussain Sayed

“Both 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,” he said.

Mr Sayed said the central conclusion of the Islamabad conference reflected the vision and philosophy of Allama Mohammad 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.

“Peace, security and stability are indivisible and inextricably intertwined with the region, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he observed. He said despite differences with the regime in Kabul, Pakistan’s relationship with the people of Afghanistan should remain paramount.

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.

He recalled that Pakistan had been a generous host to Afghan refugees for four decades, 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.

He referred to recent remarks by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi describing Pakistan and Afghanistan as “inseparable brothers,” saying that a similar sentiment had been conveyed by Turkish interlocutors during the Istanbul dialogue.

“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,” he quoted some journalists, who recently visited Afghanistan.

There was also a proposal from Russian Professor Vladimir Sotnikov for a Peace Board comprising Russia and all six neighbours of Afghanistan to work out a collective counter terrorism strategy against terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.

Mr Sayed 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.

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.

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 Oct 7, 2001 and Aug 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.

He said the experience demonstrated the need for regional countries to avoid becoming trapped in another prolonged conflict.

Delegates from China, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Diaspora took part in the conference.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2026