Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the UN Headquarters on Monday. During the meeting, Dar raised concerns about India’s violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a threat to regional stability. He urged the UN to ensure respect for international agreements and stressed the importance of peace in the region.
Dar also discussed other key issues, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the problem of terrorism sponsored from outside Pakistan. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism and praised the UN’s role in conflict resolution and sustainable development. The UN chief appreciated Pakistan’s active role as the current president of the UN Security Council.
The two leaders talked about financial challenges faced by developing countries. They focused on concessional financing, debt relief, and liquidity solutions for the Global South. Dar highlighted the UN80 initiative, which aims to strengthen peace, security, development, and human rights worldwide. He also welcomed the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to fight Islamophobia.
Dar spoke at the UN High-Level Political Forum and said Pakistan plans to generate 60% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. He stressed Pakistan’s dedication to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) despite global crises like the pandemic and climate change. Dar shared Pakistan’s efforts, such as the Benazir Income Support Programme and climate adaptation projects.
Finally, Dar called for reforms in the global financial system to help developing countries meet their development goals. He said Pakistan supports scaled-up access to grants, debt relief, and climate finance. These steps are needed to close the financing gap for the SDGs and ensure sustainable growth worldwide.