OMM Redaksiyası
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Pakistan for a three-day official visit. During meetings in Islamabad, he called for an end to the conflict between the United States and Iran and highlighted Pakistan’s role in international diplomacy.
Guterres arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The visit comes several months before his term as UN chief ends on Dec. 31.
Guterres urges US and Iran to return to diplomacy
After meeting Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Guterres urged Washington and Tehran to end the conflict and resume diplomatic talks.
Speaking alongside Dar in Islamabad, he also stressed the need to fully restore the rights and freedoms of navigation in accordance with international law. The UN identified the conflict’s impact on global trade as one of the main concerns surrounding Guterres’ visit.
Guterres praised Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran. He said Islamabad had contributed to a process that led to the signing of the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” on June 17, followed by a ceasefire and the establishment of a framework for further talks.
The secretary-general also said lasting peace in the region depended on the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination being realized.
Pakistan’s peacekeeping role recognized
Guterres said Pakistan’s importance was not defined solely by the size of its population and territory. He noted that the country brought an “important perspective” to global discussions.
The secretary-general specifically recognized Pakistan’s contributions to UN peacekeeping missions. More than 180 Pakistani peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving for peace, he said.
Guterres also highlighted Pakistan’s cooperation with Denmark on UN Security Council Resolution 2823, which aims to strengthen accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers. He said 153 countries had co-sponsored the resolution, the highest number in the history of a Security Council resolution.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met Guterres and presented him with the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of the country’s highest civilian awards. It was the first time Pakistan had bestowed the award on a UN secretary-general. The honor recognized Guterres’ international service, leadership of the United Nations and contributions to global peace and development.
Guterres also visited the Islamabad headquarters of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. He paid tribute to the peacekeepers and highlighted the mission’s work along the Line of Control.
During the visit, Guterres is scheduled to meet Pakistan’s senior civilian and military leadership. According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, his program includes meetings with the president, prime minister, deputy prime minister and foreign minister, as well as the commander of the defense forces and the army chief.
Guterres’ visit to Pakistan comes in the final months of his decade leading the United Nations. In his remarks in Islamabad, he emphasized the importance of diplomacy amid war, while his meetings focused on Pakistan’s role in peacekeeping, mediation and multilateral cooperation.
