Mian Zahid Hussain, President of the Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum & All Karachi Industrial Alliance, Chairman National Business Group Pakistan, Chairman of the Policy Advisory Board of FPCCI, and Former Provincial Minister of Information Technology, today stated that the Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks in Istanbul are critical and appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to anchor the critical necessity of regional security and economic stability.

Mian Zahid Hussain emphasized that the ongoing stalemate is more than just a diplomatic issue; it’s undermining the economies of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The failure of the Afghan regime to guarantee safety against cross-border terrorism is significantly harming both nations, affecting their people and businesses. Recent closures of key land crossings have shattered supply chains, stranding trucks and causing vital goods to spoil.

Mian Zahid Hussain expressed serious concern over the 200% rise in TTP-related terror attacks in Pakistan in 2025. This violence endangers lives and vital infrastructure projects, jeopardizing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the potential for bilateral trade to reach $8 to $10 billion annually.

Mian Zahid Hussein stated that Pakistan’s demand for action against TTP sanctuaries in Afghanistan is justified. The business community fully backs Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s commitment to safeguarding national integrity with full strength, vigor, and resolve. The Istanbul dialogue must produce verifiable guarantees, concrete timelines, and measurable benchmarks for dismantling the TTP infrastructure. The time for verifiable action is now; otherwise, hot pursuit would be the only option left for Pakistan.