ISLAMABAD: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres departed Pakistan on Thursday after concluding a three-day official visit, during which he held extensive engagements with the country’s top civilian and military leadership.
Guterres, who arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, was seen off after a programme that covered regional security, climate resilience, and Pakistan’s role in UN peacekeeping. He is expected to return to New York.
Meetings With Top Leadership: Guterres Pakistan visit
During the visit, the UN chief met President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Dar, and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.
President Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civil awards, on Guterres at a special investiture ceremony at Aiwan-i-Sadr on Tuesday, recognising his international service and contribution to global peace and development.
His meeting with [Field Marshal Munir](https://featurepakistan.com/un-chief-guterres-meets-cdf-munir-ghq-rawalpindi/) at GHQ on Wednesday covered regional security and Pakistan’s commitment to world peace. The Foreign Office said the visit offered an opportunity to exchange views on regional and international developments and to reaffirm Pakistan’s longstanding cooperation with the world body.
Mediation and Climate on the Agenda
Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions between the United States and Iran featured in the discussions. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Guterres had recognised Pakistan’s role in supporting diplomatic efforts and bringing parties together through dialogue and mediation.
Guterres also visited the headquarters of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and received a briefing at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on the country’s disaster preparedness and early-warning systems.
Addressing the climate crisis, the secretary-general said: “Pakistan is on the frontlines of climate chaos despite contributing only a tiny fraction of global emissions,” adding that the country was also “on the frontlines of the response.” He pointed to Pakistan’s leadership in establishing the Loss and Damage Fund and its growing clean energy transition. His last visit to the country came in 2022, when he travelled to areas hit by catastrophic floods.
A Farewell Visit
The trip carries added weight as Guterres approaches the end of his ten-year tenure as UN secretary-general, which concludes on December 31 after two five-year terms.
The Foreign Office said the visit reflected Pakistan’s continued support for multilateralism with the United Nations at its core, and its commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Pakistan remains one of the largest contributors of troops and police to UN peacekeeping missions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Antonio Guterres visit Pakistan?
The UN secretary-general visited Pakistan from October 6 to 8 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for meetings with the country’s leadership on regional security, climate resilience, and Pakistan-UN cooperation.
Who did Guterres meet during the visit?
He met President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Field Marshal Asim Munir, and visited UNMOGIP headquarters and the NDMA.
What award did Pakistan give to Guterres?
President Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civil awards, on the UN chief in recognition of his international service, leadership of the United Nations, and contribution to global peace and development.
When does Guterres leave office as UN chief?
His ten-year tenure as secretary-general, spanning two five-year terms, ends on December 31, 2026, making the Pakistan trip one of his final official visits.
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Writer’s note: Briefing-based draft. The source articles’ full text could not be verified directly (Tribune/Dawn block automated article fetch); facts were corroborated via the Tribune Pakistan section listing, The News, UN News, and the Foreign Office curtain raiser. The two verbatim quotes are from UN News and the UN spokesperson via APP reporting, attributed in the text.
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- Guterres Hails Pakistan’s ‘Pivotal Role’ in US-Iran Mediation at Islamabad Presser
- Dar Meets Guterres as UN Chief’s Visit Turns to Peace and Security Talks
Originally reported by Daily Frontier Star.
