Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Urges Afghan Government to Counter Terrorist Threats

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that the interim Afghan administration has not prevented its territory from being used to launch attacks against Pakistan.

He announced a Rs300 billion Karachi‑Chaman dual carriageway, along with expansions in education, infrastructure and solar projects across Balochistan.

He also inaugurated the Sky47 AI Cloud facility in the federal capital.

ISLAMABAD: On Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif again urged Afghanistan to act against terrorist organisations and ensure that Afghan soil is not used for attacks on Pakistan.

“Pakistan shares a 2,600‑kilometre border with its neighbour and has repeatedly called on Afghan authorities to counter terrorist groups and stop their territory from being used against Pakistan. Yet the Afghan interim government has failed to take effective action,” he said while addressing the National Workshop on Balochistan.

The prime minister reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to providing all necessary resources for Balochistan’s development and prosperity, stressing that national progress depends on balanced advancement across all provinces.

He said the Rs300 billion dual carriageway linking Karachi to Chaman will be completed within two years.

Punjab has contributed Rs150 billion to Balochistan under the National Finance Commission Award, and he urged other provinces to fulfil their share in supporting the region’s growth.

Balochistan has received an additional 10 percent quota for laptop and scholarship distribution, and the Kachhi Canal Project will be fast‑tracked.

He praised Balochistan’s leadership for consistently placing national interests above personal or political considerations and for its steadfast support of the federation.

Noting that farmers in Balochistan have endured prolonged power outages, he said about 27,000 agricultural tube wells are being converted to solar energy under a Rs75 billion initiative, to which the federal government has contributed Rs50 billion.

He expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of Mastung Judge Abdul Hakeem Kakar and a security official, praying for their elevated ranks and patience for their families.

The prime minister also alleged that India is financing terrorism inside Pakistan.

He observed that although terrorism had largely been eradicated by 2017‑18, it later resurfaced through what he described as a highly organised conspiracy.

AI cloud centre inaugurated

Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the newly inaugurated AI and cloud‑computing facility as a landmark achievement for Pakistan, reflecting the nation’s growing technological prowess.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the country’s first‑ever Sky47 AI Cloud centre, he commended the engineers, experts and institutions involved, noting that the successful execution highlighted the exceptional talent present in both Pakistan’s military and civilian sectors.

Paying tribute to Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir’s leadership, he said the project stands as a testament to what can be achieved when state institutions collaborate with a shared national purpose.

The prime minister also acknowledged the contributions of Field Marshal Munir, the Ministry of Information Technology, the IT secretary and strategic technology partner ZTE for their roles in delivering the project.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Field Marshal Munir, federal ministers Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Attaullah Tarar, as well as senior government officials.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2026

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