Guterres Hails Pakistan's 'Pivotal Role' in US-Iran Mediation at Islamabad Presser
Guterres Hails Pakistan’s ‘Pivotal Role’ in US-Iran Mediation at Islamabad Presser
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday praised Pakistan’s US-Iran mediation efforts, calling the country’s role “pivotal” at a joint press conference in Islamabad with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
“Pakistan’s spirit of engagement is front and centre on issues of international peace and security. I salute Pakistan’s leadership for helping to create the conditions for dialogue between the US and Iran and mediating that conflict,” Guterres said.
US-Iran mediation: praise for the Islamabad MoU
The UN chief credited Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic push with producing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, the ceasefire that followed, and the framework for future talks.
“Your efforts helped deliver the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, the subsequent ceasefire and the framework for future negotiations. Every Pakistani should be proud of that pivotal role,” he said.
“And from Islamabad, I want to send a loud and clear message to all parties: end the conflict, return to diplomacy and restore navigational rights in accordance with international law. There will never be peace in the region until the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people is recognised, as Pakistan has long championed,” Guterres added.
Climate, Palestine and peacekeeping
Guterres said Pakistan remains on the front lines of the climate crisis despite its small share of global emissions, and commended the country’s role in the global climate response, including the Loss and Damage Fund. He noted that leadership by vulnerable developing countries cannot substitute for the responsibility of major emitters, pointing out that G20 countries account for around 80 per cent of global emissions, and called for drastic cuts this decade.
On Palestine, he said lasting regional peace is impossible without recognising the Palestinian right to self-determination. He also highlighted the sacrifices of more than 170 Pakistani peacekeepers and commended Pakistan’s role in advancing UN Security Council Resolution 2813, co-sponsored by 150 countries.
What Dar raised
Deputy PM Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, saying detailed discussions were held on Palestine, Jammu and Kashmir, Afghanistan, sustainable development and the future of multilateralism.
Dar briefed the UN chief on Pakistan’s concern over the continued use of Afghan soil for terrorist attacks against Pakistan, and flagged India’s unilateral decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, which he called a blatant violation of international law. He said India must stop weaponising water and fulfil its treaty obligations. He also welcomed the UN’s consistent position on Jammu and Kashmir.
The visit so far
The press conference followed a meeting between Dar and Guterres earlier on Tuesday, the centrepiece of the UN chief’s two-day official visit to Pakistan, which runs from October 6 to 8. Guterres arrived in Islamabad in the early hours of Tuesday at Dar’s invitation and was received by Acting Foreign Secretary Nabeel Munir.
The visit carries added weight as one of Guterres’s last official trips to a member state; his ten-year tenure as secretary-general ends on December 31. His programme also includes meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, plus visits to the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan headquarters and a briefing at the National Disaster Management Authority.
Why is Guterres visiting Pakistan?
The UN chief is in Islamabad from October 6 to 8 at Deputy PM Dar’s invitation, with Pakistan’s US-Iran mediation role and regional peace high on the agenda. It is one of his final official visits before his tenure ends on December 31.
What is the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding?
The Islamabad MoU is the agreement between the United States and Iran, facilitated by Pakistan, that produced a ceasefire and a framework for future negotiations. Guterres credited Pakistan’s diplomacy with delivering it.
What did Guterres say about Palestine?
He said there will never be peace in the region until the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination is recognised, a position he noted Pakistan has long championed.
