President Asif Ali Zardari. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
President Asif Ali Zardari, on Friday highlighting the rapid changes facing the world, ranging from geopolitical shifts and hybrid threats to cybersecurity, reiterated that despite all these challenges, Pakistan was ready to work with all nations to build understanding, peace and sustainable development.
The president, during the interactive session with the participants of the 6th International Workshop for Leadership and Stability 2026, congratulated them at the end of the workshop. The workshop brought together around 100 participants, including 69 from 49 different countries.
Terming leadership and stability as pillars of nations and institutions, the President noted that the world is currently facing rapid change, with geopolitical shifts, emerging security threats and the growing role of technology in governance.
“Security is no longer just about conventional conflicts. It includes cybersecurity, hybrid threats and information challenges. At the same time, climate change, resource scarcity and disinformation cross borders, demanding collaborative solutions,” the president emphasized in his speech.
President Zardari urged workshop participants to translate discussions into concrete solutions, choosing dialogue over division and cooperation over conflict.
He commended the National Defense University (NDU) for organizing this important forum and called for such workshops to bring together policy makers, diplomats, military officials, academics and private sector leaders.
President Zardari said these forums provide valuable space to discuss leadership and stability. “I hope that these ideas will reach a wider audience within our institutions and our society,” he said.
He expressed his gratitude to the organizers, participants and NDU for making this workshop possible, and expressed hope that their discussions would become informative, the collaborations would be lasting and the time spent here would be meaningful.
Replying to questions from participants, President Zardari said Pakistan was working closely with many countries in the region and was ready to strengthen its manpower through bilateral technological advancements.
He stressed that interaction between Serbia and Pakistan needs to be strengthened and said Pakistan is keen to work with Serbia and undertake enhanced interaction between think tanks, industry and academia of the two countries.
Replying to another question, he said Pakistan and the world had no choice but to cooperate as all are linked; facing cross-cutting issues.
President Zardari said the 18th Constitutional Amendment aimed to guide the nation to ensure its sustainable future and survival as it honored public opinion and ownership of decisions made by the masses regarding national wealth.
“Pakistan believes that every country has its national interest. We do not encourage war and conflict between nations but rather repeated dialogue to resolve issues. Our region is unstable but I hope no conflict breaks out there,” he said.
