AI Could Make Future Wars More Dangerous, Warns Pakistan Defense Minister
UNITED NATIONS —Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into military systems could make future conflicts far more dangerous, posing serious risks to global peace and stability.
Speaking at a high-level UN debate on AI on Wednesday, Asif urged all countries to ensure technological advances are used responsibly under the UN Charter. He highlighted Pakistan’s first national AI policy, introduced earlier this year, as a step toward promoting innovation while preventing misuse.
“AI has simplified decision-making processes, but it has also created conditions where future wars may be significantly more dangerous,” Asif said, calling for collective global measures to prevent an uncontrolled arms race.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, opening the debate, described AI as a transformative force affecting daily life, information, and the global economy. He stressed that human control must always remain over life-and-death decisions, including in nuclear and lethal autonomous weapon systems.
“Innovation must serve humanity—not undermine it,” Guterres said, emphasizing the need for legally binding international regulations on AI in warfare by 2026.
Asif concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to supporting international efforts to balance technological progress with global peace and security.