Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, called on Thursday for deeper international engagement through diplomacy, intercultural exchange, and mutual understanding. He described dialogue as “the most effective tool to transcend differences and foster mutual understanding and cooperation.”
High-Level UN Event
Speaking at a high-level United Nations event marking the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations, the ambassador joined other delegations in congratulating the organisers. He expressed his wish to “join many of my colleagues who are here in the room to congratulate you… for organising and co-sponsoring this very important event,” adding that it had been “a very interesting and absorbing discussion.”
He highlighted remarks made by senior global figures, including China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the General Assembly, and the High Representative. Ahmad praised “the messages that we have heard” from international leaders.
Dialogue as a Tool for Peace
The Pakistani envoy noted that the discussion underscored a growing global consensus on the importance of dialogue, stating that “dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective tools to transcend differences and foster mutual understanding and cooperation.” He recalled that the United Nations itself was founded on this principle, with its establishment after the Second World War reflecting recognition of “the interlinkage that exists between international peace and dialogue among civilisations.”
Warning of contemporary global tensions, he said that at “this critical juncture of history, when myriad challenges imperil global peace and harmony,” the importance of intercultural engagement “cannot be overemphasised.”
Pakistan’s Civilisational Heritage
The ambassador also drew on Pakistan’s historical and cultural heritage, noting that the country’s civilisational roots stretch back thousands of years, including the Indus Valley civilisation and Harappa, which he said went back “5,000 years.” He described Pakistan as being “located at the crossroads of the Middle East and West, South, and Central Asia,” and said it had long been “a melting pot of many civilisations and religions.”
He added that values such as interfaith harmony, peaceful coexistence, diversity, and dialogue were “not only defining features of Pakistan’s civilisation, but also a driver of our foreign policy.” In this context, he referred to Pakistan’s co-sponsorship, with the Philippines, of a UN General Assembly resolution titled Promotion of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, Understanding and Cooperation for Peace, which he said had been adopted by consensus.
Commitment to the UN
Concluding his remarks, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the United Nations system, saying, “Pakistan will continue its engagement with the UN and all member states for advancing our shared objectives of dialogue among civilisations, cultures, and faiths for global peace and prosperity.”
