- Pakistan categorically rejects terrorism in all its forms: DPM Dar.
- He describes a country bridge between the South and the North.
- DPM Dar highlights strained trust in multilateral institutions.
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and multilateralism as essential instruments for ensuring peace, stability and development.
“Dialogue has always been our favorite instrument for stability and progress,” said DPM Dar during his speech on the second day of the Inter-Parliamentary Conference of Presidents (ISC).
Addressing parliamentarians, delegates and participants from around the world here, the DPM said their presence reflected a shared belief that cooperation among nations remained the surest path to peace and progress.
Dar emphasized that diplomacy today extends beyond ministries and traditional missions, relying on public awareness and parliamentary engagement.
“Parliamentary diplomacy complements traditional diplomacy by integrating the views of people’s representatives into international discourse,” he said, emphasizing that such interactions enrich global cooperation and ensure that diplomacy reflects the aspirations and interests of citizens around the world.
The minister commended parliamentarians for their essential role in translating international commitments into national actions, simplifying regulations and fostering innovation to ensure that growth benefits all citizens. He said that through regional connectivity, trade facilitation and investment partnerships, economies could achieve shared prosperity.
Touching on current global challenges, Dar noted that the world is witnessing an era of transformation marked by strained trust in multilateral institutions, growing geopolitical rivalries, climate crises, terrorism and growing inequality.
“At such a time, forums like this are of exceptional importance,” he remarked. “Multilateralism must not only be preserved but revitalized through openness, inclusion and the active participation of people’s representatives.”
Highlighting this year’s theme, “Peace, Security and Development”, the Foreign Minister said it highlights a simple but powerful truth: peace enables growth, development supports peace and security enhances progress. He insisted that institutions must be accountable and inclusive so that the dividends of peace and development benefit all.
Condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Wana and Islamabad which claimed the lives of 15 people, Dar said Pakistan categorically rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. “These cowardly acts will never shake our national resolve to eliminate this menace,” he said, reaffirming that dialogue, understanding and partnership remain the only lasting path to peace and security.
Dar reiterated that Pakistan’s foreign policy was anchored on the principles of the United Nations Charter – sovereign equality, peaceful resolution of disputes, non-interference and friendly relations among nations, and noted Pakistan’s consistent advocacy for regional cooperation, conflict prevention and equitable development.
He noted that the conference, organized under the auspices of the Senate of Pakistan through the vision of Senate Chairman and Founding President of the ISC, Senator Yousaf Raza Gilani, marked a new milestone in Pakistan’s sustained efforts to advance peace, security and development through multilateralism.
“As Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House in the Senate, I remember that Pakistan’s journey on the international stage has always been defined by resilience, dialogue and partnership,” Dar said, adding that the ISC provides a unique platform to translate these principles into tangible results that advance Pakistan’s interests while strengthening regional stability.
Bridge between South and North
Highlighting Pakistan’s leadership at the United Nations, he recalled that during its presidency of the UN Security Council in July 2025, Pakistan held an open debate on promoting international peace through multilateralism, leading to the unanimous adoption of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution on strengthening mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of disputes.
“Pakistan’s experience uniquely positions it as a bridge between South and North, as well as between regions and civilizations.
“We believe that cooperation should replace competition and that fair partnerships, not hierarchies, should define the future international order,” he said.
Concluding his speech, Dar called on participants to reaffirm their faith in dialogue and cooperation. “Pakistan stands ready to continue serving as a bridge builder, uniting regions, amplifying the voices of the developing world and promoting peace through justice and dialogue,” he said. “Ultimately, diplomacy, whether in the House or the Chancellery, must serve the people.”
He added that the Inter-Parliamentary Conference of Presidents embodied this spirit of people-centered diplomacy, rooted in representation, grounded in accountability and driven by empathy, paving the way for a fairer, more secure and more prosperous world for all.
