United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) and United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, on Tuesday called for renewed multilateralism, intercultural dialogue and collective international action to address the increasingly complex global challenges confronting the world.
He was addressing a public talk titled “Dialogue and Global Cooperation” organized by the Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), said a press release.
Dr Neelum Nigar, in her introductory remarks, noted that the work of UNAOC remained highly relevant, as its emphasis on dialogue among cultures and religions reflected Pakistan’s enduring commitment to peaceful coexistence, interfaith harmony, constructive international engagement, and respect for all religions and civilizations.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood observed that the world was witnessing an alarming rise in identity-based polarization, religious intolerance, hate speech, violent extremism, and shrinking space for constructive dialogue, with Islamophobia emerging as one of the most serious manifestations of these trends. He stressed that Islamophobia has evolved beyond isolated acts of discrimination into a global challenge that threatens the universal principles of equality, human dignity, religious freedom, and peaceful coexistence.
Highlighting the growing prevalence of anti-Muslim rhetoric, attacks on places of worship, and discriminatory narratives, he referred to the situation in India and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as examples of developments that have drawn widespread international concern over religious discrimination and intolerance.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s principled position that no religion should ever be associated with terrorism or extremism, nor any faith community subjected to hatred because of the actions of a few individuals, he recalled Pakistan’s leading role in securing the United Nations General Assembly’s designation of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and welcomed the appointment of the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia.
Concluding, Ambassador Mahmood emphasized that lasting peace could only be achieved through mutual respect, intercultural dialogue, and inclusive engagement, while commending the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations for its vital role in fostering understanding, countering extremism, and promoting peaceful and resilient societies.
Delivering the keynote address, Miguel Ángel Moratinos observed that the international system stood at a defining inflection point, marked by growing geopolitical fragmentation, diminishing confidence in multilateral institutions, and an increasingly complex array of transnational challenges.
He argued that restoring dialogue, rebuilding trust in multilateralism, and strengthening intercultural understanding were no longer aspirational objectives but strategic imperatives for preserving international peace, security, and sustainable development. Stressing that the world was undergoing a profound transformation, he called for renewed political leadership and collective international action to address global challenges through cooperation rather than confrontation.
Moratinos cautioned that international discourse has increasingly become dominated by narrow security considerations, while the broader objective of achieving sustainable peace has gradually receded from the forefront of global policymaking. He observed that persistent conflicts, widening economic inequalities, the accelerating impacts of climate change, and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence are reshaping the international landscape.
While recognizing AI’s transformative potential, he underscored that it also presented profound ethical, social, and governance challenges that require responsible regulation and strengthened international cooperation.
Highlighting the interconnected nature of contemporary global challenges, Moratinos emphasized that issues such as climate change, terrorism, pandemics, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development transcend national boundaries and could not be effectively addressed through unilateral action.
He argued that the defining question of the twenty-first century was not whether nations could outcompete one another, but whether they possess the political would to cooperate in addressing shared challenges. Reaffirming that multilateralism remained the only credible framework for mobilizing collective action, he stressed that dialogue and international cooperation were indispensable for securing a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous future.