UN Secretary-General Guterres Begins Three-Day Pakistan Visit, Holds Talks on Regional and Global Issues
ISLAMABAD | NAZRANA TIMES Ali Imran Chattha 
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for a three-day official visit focused on regional and international developments, peace and security, multilateral cooperation, climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
Guterres arrived in the Pakistani capital early Tuesday and was received by Acting Foreign Secretary Ambassador Nabeel Munir. His visit, from October 6 to 8, is taking place at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
Soon after his arrival, Guterres held talks with Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions covered a range of regional and global issues, including Palestine, Jammu and Kashmir, Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and the future of multilateralism.
Dar briefed the UN secretary-general on Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty, reiterating Islamabad’s call for a just and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The foreign minister also highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue and de-escalation, including its role in facilitating talks between the United States and Iran. Pakistan reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy remain the most effective means of resolving disputes.
Guterres appreciated Pakistan’s longstanding contribution to the United Nations and its diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue, mediation and de-escalation. He also acknowledged Pakistan’s role in helping create conditions for dialogue between the United States and Iran.

During his engagements in Islamabad, Guterres planted a commemorative tree on the lawn of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by Ishaq Dar.
The symbolic ceremony highlighted the shared commitment of Pakistan and the United Nations to environmental protection, green diplomacy and collective efforts to address climate change.
Climate resilience and disaster preparedness are important components of Guterres’s Pakistan programme, particularly in view of the country’s experience with devastating floods and other climate-related disasters.
Meetings with Pakistan’s Top Leadership
During his visit, Guterres is scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
The meetings are expected to cover Pakistan-UN cooperation, regional and international developments, peace and security, multilateralism and Pakistan’s contribution to UN peacekeeping and security efforts.
Pakistan is also expected to highlight its longstanding support for the UN Charter and multilateral institutions, as well as its contribution to international peacekeeping and efforts to promote dialogue and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
UNMOGIP Visit on Agenda
Guterres is also scheduled to visit the headquarters of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Islamabad.
The visit will form part of his engagements on regional peace and security and the UN’s continuing role in the region.

NDMA Briefing on Disaster Preparedness
Another key engagement on the itinerary is a visit to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), where Guterres is expected to receive a briefing on Pakistan’s progress in strengthening disaster preparedness, resilience and early-warning systems.
The visit is particularly significant given Guterres’s 2022 trip to Pakistan following catastrophic floods that affected large parts of the country.
The UN chief is expected to review progress made since then in strengthening Pakistan’s capacity to prepare for and respond to natural disasters. Early-warning mechanisms, climate resilience and community preparedness are expected to remain important areas of discussion.
Guterres’s visit comes amid heightened regional and international tensions and provides an opportunity for Pakistan and the United Nations to discuss a broad range of issues affecting international peace and security.
Pakistan is expected to underline its support for multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core, and reiterate its commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
The visit also provides an opportunity to acknowledge Guterres’s contribution to international peace and development during his tenure as UN secretary-general. His current term is due to conclude at the end of December 2026.
Guterres’s current visit is his latest engagement with Pakistan following previous trips, including his 2022 visit to flood-affected areas.
The three-day programme combines high-level political and diplomatic meetings with engagements on peace and security, disaster preparedness, climate resilience and the UN’s role in the region.
Further meetings during the visit are expected to focus on strengthening Pakistan-UN cooperation and addressing regional and global challenges through diplomacy, dialogue and multilateral action.