- Pakistan categorically rejects terrorism in all its forms: DPM Dar.
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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 to ensure peace, stability and development.
“Dialogue has always been our preferred instrument for stability and progress,” said Minister Dar while speaking on the second day of the three-day Inter-Parliamentary Conference of Presidents (ICC).
Speaking to parliamentarians, delegates and participants from around the world here, the DPM said his presence reflected a shared conviction that cooperation between nations remains the surest path to peace and progress.
Dar emphasized that today’s diplomacy extends beyond traditional ministries and missions, and is strengthened by public awareness and parliamentary commitment.
“Parliamentary diplomacy complements traditional diplomacy by bringing the perspective of people’s representatives to international discourse,” he said, underscoring that such interactions enrich global cooperation and ensure that diplomacy reflects the aspirations and interests of citizens around the world.
The minister praised parliamentarians for their vital role in translating international commitments into national action, simplifying regulations and enabling innovation to ensure growth benefits all citizens. He said that through regional connectivity, trade facilitation and investment partnerships, economies could achieve shared prosperity.
Referring to current global challenges, Dar noted that the world was witnessing an era of transformation marked by strained trust in multilateral institutions, growing geopolitical rivalries, climate crises, terrorism and widening inequalities.
“At this time, forums like this are of exceptional importance,” he noted. “Multilateralism must not only be preserved but revitalized through openness, inclusion and active participation of the people’s representatives.”
Noting this year’s theme, ‘Peace, Security and Development’, the Minister said it underscored a simple but powerful truth: that peace enables growth, development sustains peace and security strengthens progress. He urged that institutions must be responsible and inclusive so that the dividends of peace and development reach all people.
Condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Wana and Islamabad that claimed 15 lives, Dar said Pakistan categorically rejects terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. “These cowardly acts will never shake our national resolve to eliminate this threat,” he said, reaffirming that dialogue, understanding and partnership remain the only sustainable path to peace and security.
Dar reiterated that Pakistan’s foreign policy was anchored in the principles of the UN Charter: sovereign equality, peaceful settlement 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, convened under the Senate of Pakistan through the vision of Senate President and ISC Founding Chairman Senator Yousaf Raza Gilani, marked another milestone in Pakistan’s sustained efforts to promote peace, security and development through multilateralism.
“As Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House in the Senate, I am reminded that Pakistan’s journey on the international stage has always been defined by resilience, dialogue and partnership,” Dar said, adding that the ISC provided a unique platform to translate these principles into tangible results that advance Pakistan’s interests while strengthening regional stability.
Bridge between the Global South and the Global North
Highlighting Pakistan’s leadership in the United Nations, he recalled that during its presidency of the UN Security Council in July 2025, Pakistan had convened an open debate on promoting international peace through multilateralism, which led to the unanimous adoption of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution on strengthening mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
“Pakistan’s experience uniquely positions it as a bridge between the Global South and the Global North and between regions and civilizations.
“We believe that cooperation should replace competition, and that equal partnerships, not hierarchies, should define the future international order,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Dar called on participants to reaffirm their faith in dialogue and cooperation. “Pakistan stands ready to continue serving as a bridge, 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 Interparliamentary Conference of Presidents embodied this spirit of people-centred diplomacy, rooted in representation, anchored in accountability and driven by empathy, paving the way towards a fairer, safer and more prosperous world for all.
