WASHINGTON: In a meeting with the UN Secretary General, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar expressed strong support for multilateralism and the central role of the UN in resolving global conflicts, aswell as promoting sustainable development.

The foreign minister, who is currently in New York to attend a series of high-level UN meetings, met António Guterres on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, where he called for reforms to the international financial architecture, and the immediate implementation of development financing commitments.

Mr Dar highlighted Pakistan’s recent initiatives at the United Nations, especially during its presidency of the UN Security Council. He underscored Islamabad’s focus on reinforcing multilateral approaches and strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

In the wide-ranging discussion, Mr Dar raised several pressing national and regional concerns, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and what Pakistan views as repeated violations of the Indus Waters Treaty by India.

The foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and condemned Israel’s settlement expansion and annexation plans in the occupied West Bank.

Mr Dar expressed Pakistan’s appreciation for Secretary-General Guterres’s consistent efforts to promote diplomacy and de-escalation, particularly during the recent uptick in tensions between Pakistan and India.

The UN secretary-general, for his part, appreciated Pakistan’s engagement and initiatives at the Security Council and acknowledged the country’s contributions to advancing multilateral diplomacy.

Earlier, speaking at the HLPF discussion, Mr Dar warned that efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) “cannot succeed in isolation”.

The forum, which reviews global progress on the 2030 Agenda, brought together heads of state, ministers, and experts to assess progress towards achieving the development goals.

Despite limited fiscal space, Mr Dar said Pakistan remained committed to the global goals. “Our national development strategies, such as Uraan Pakistan, are aligned with the SDGs,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2025