UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has praised Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East and its role in facilitating US-Iran talks. Addressing a joint press conference alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, Guterres said Islamabad's credibility with countries at odds had helped create conditions for negotiations and de-escalation in one of the world's most dangerous conflicts.
Pakistan's initiative in relation to the Gulf conflict was remarkable and demonstrated the importance of having countries that could be trusted by opposing sides, he added. "What Pakistan has done in relation to the conflict in the Gulf, namely between the US and Iran, is a remarkable initiative. And what is important is for the world to have countries that can be trusted, ....
And that trust that Pakistan deserved was essential to allow for peace negotiations to take place," said the UN chief. He said Pakistan's diplomatic efforts had helped deliver the June 17 Islamabad memorandum of understanding (MoU), the subsequent ceasefire and a framework for future negotiations. "Pakistan has been an extremely important example of mediation," Guterres said, adding that Islamabad's role showed the value of bridge-building and diplomacy at a time of deep international divisions.
DPM Dar said Pakistan's efforts had brought the US and Iran to direct dialogue after 47 years, describing Islamabad's contribution as a humble but significant effort rooted in the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, non-interference, self-determination and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Antonio Guterres urged all parties to end conflict, return to diplomacy and fully restore navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law.
The UN chief also warned that the international community's focus on the wars in Ukraine and the Gulf must not overshadow the suffering of the Palestinian people. He stressed that the scale of death and destruction witnessed in Gaza was unprecedented in his tenure as UN secretary-general. Guterres called for an immediate end to the suffering of Palestinians and the full implementation of the peace plan.
He also expressed concern over violence and settlement decisions in the West Bank, warning that such developments could undermine the two-state solution. He reiterated that lasting peace in the region required realization of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and mutual respect. Dar said Pakistan had consistently supported diplomatic efforts for peace in Gaza and recalled Pakistan's participation with seven other Arab and Muslim countries in engagement with US President Donald Trump.
He said the group's sole agenda had been achieving peace in Gaza, which subsequently contributed to the formulation of a 20-point peace plan. The deputy prime minister, expressing Pakistan's concerns regarding Jammu and Kashmir, welcomed the UN's continued reference to the UN framework and Security Council resolutions for resolving the dispute. He urged the international community to ensure implementation of Security Council resolutions, arguing that resolutions concerning Kashmir and Palestine had remained unimplemented.
The deputy prime minister also raised India's decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, calling it a violation of international law. He urged India to stop "weaponising water" and fulfil its obligations under the treaty. Guterres highlighted Pakistan's longstanding humanitarian role in hosting Afghan refugees, recalling that millions of Afghans had found protection in the country over several decades.
He said the UN would work with Pakistan to uphold protection principles and ensure that the return of Afghans was voluntary, safe and dignified. Ishaq Dar, meanwhile, raised Pakistan's concerns over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan and called for international efforts to address the issue. The UN secretary-general acknowledged Pakistan's own struggle against terrorism, stressing that legitimate security concerns must be addressed but that effective security measures should operate within international law, human rights and the rule of law.
Both leaders also called for reforms to the international system, including the UN Security Council and international financial institutions. Guterres said the Security Council no longer adequately represented the world of today. He pointed out that there were three European members among the permanent members while Africa had no permanent representation, creating problems of legitimacy and effectiveness.
He also criticised the paralysis caused by divisions among the permanent five members, saying major powers sometimes initiated conflicts or violated international law, contributing to a perception that powerful states could act without consequences. He called for Security Council reform to make the body more representative and legitimate, while urging major powers to unite when fundamental principles of international law were at stake. He said developing countries needed greater access to development finance, debt relief and concessional funding.
Dar said Pakistan had strongly supported multilateralism and had sought to promote negotiation, mediation and preventive diplomacy during its current term on the Security Council. He cited Pakistan's initiative on Resolution 2788 on strengthening multilateralism and peaceful settlement of disputes. He also called for reform of international financial institutions, saying the global financial architecture created after World War II no longer reflected today's realities.