Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday warned that multilateralism is under threat as South Asia faces growing instability, stressing the need for regional cooperation.
Speaking in Islamabad, he highlighted that global governance institutions are often undermined by unilateral actions of a few states and that conflicts, like the brief May India-Pakistan clash, could easily escalate. Dar cautioned that states increasingly rely on force, disregarding international law, while emerging technologies, terrorism, and hybrid warfare further challenge stability.
He affirmed Pakistan’s resolve in countering aggression and maintaining deterrence, while rejecting bloc politics and zero-sum approaches. As a member of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026, Pakistan advocates dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful dispute resolution.
Dar also warned that extremist ideologies, political populism, democratic erosion, and Islamophobia are causing global upheaval. He outlined Pakistan’s vision for South Asia: regional connectivity, economic synergy, peaceful dispute resolution, and lasting, dignified peace, and pledged to collaborate with all willing partners to realise the region’s potential.
