Dar emphasizes communication and collaboration as the cornerstones of peace and advancement at the ISC.

Speaking on the second day of the three-day Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC), Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and multilateralism as crucial tools for guaranteeing peace, stability, and development on Wednesday.

Speaking in front of lawmakers, representatives, and participants from all over the world, the DPM said that their attendance demonstrated a common belief that international collaboration was still the most reliable route to peace and development.

He pointed out that the meeting, which was organized by the Senate of Pakistan with the help of Senate and ISC Founding Chairman Senator Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, was another significant step in Pakistan’s ongoing attempts to use multilateralism to promote peace, security, and development.

The ISC offered a special forum to convert these ideals into concrete results that further Pakistan’s interests and bolster regional stability, Dar said. “As Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House in the Senate, I am reminded that Pakistan’s journey on the international stage has always been defined by resilience, dialogue, and partnership,” Dar said.

He underlined that public awareness and parliamentary participation were key components of modern diplomacy, which went beyond ministries and conventional missions. He emphasized that such exchanges enhance international cooperation and guarantee that diplomacy reflects the goals and interests of people everywhere, saying that “parliamentary diplomacy complements traditional diplomacy by bringing the perspective of the people’s representatives into international discourse.”

In order to guarantee that progress benefits all residents, Dar commended lawmakers for their crucial role in converting international pledges into local actions, streamlining regulations, and fostering innovation. He claimed that economies may attain shared prosperity through trade liberalization, investment partnerships, and regional connectivity.

The world is going through a period of change characterized by strained trust in international institutions, escalating geopolitical rivalries, climatic catastrophes, terrorism, and growing inequality, Dar said, referring to the current global issues. “Forums like this have extraordinary importance at such a time,” he said. Through transparency, inclusivity, and the active involvement of representatives of the people, multilateralism must not only be maintained but also reinvigorated.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, this year’s theme, “Peace, Security, and Development,” emphasized the straightforward yet potent reality that security strengthens progress, development maintains peace, and peace permits prosperity. In order for everyone to benefit from peace and development, he emphasized the need for institutions to be inclusive and accountable.

Dar said that Pakistan firmly opposed terrorism in all of its forms and manifestations and denounced the recent terrorist strikes in Wana and Islamabad that left 15 people dead. He reaffirmed that communication, understanding, and cooperation are still the only long-term routes to peace and security, saying, “These cowardly acts will never shake our national resolve to eliminate this menace.”

Dar reaffirmed that the UN Charter’s tenets of sovereign equality, amicable international relations, peaceful conflict resolution, and non-interference served as the foundation for Pakistan’s foreign policy. He noted Pakistan’s persistent support for regional collaboration, conflict prevention, and equitable development and stated, “Dialogue has always been our preferred instrument for stability and progress.”

He emphasized Pakistan’s leadership at the UN, recalling that in July 2025, when it was the UN Security Council’s president, Pakistan organized a free discussion on advancing global peace via multilateralism, which resulted in the unanimous adoption of a resolution sponsored by Pakistan on bolstering peaceful dispute resolution procedures.

Because of its history, Pakistan is in a unique position to serve as a bridge between different areas and civilizations as well as between the Global South and the Global North. We think that the future international order should be defined by equitable partnerships rather than hierarchies, and that collaboration must take the place of rivalry,” he stated.

In closing, Dar urged the audience to renew their belief in communication and collaboration. “Pakistan remains committed to its role as a bridge-builder, bringing regions together, elevating the voices of the developing world, and advancing peace via dialogue and justice,” he stated. “In the end, diplomacy—whether in the chancery or the chamber—must benefit the people.”

“This spirit of people-centered diplomacy, rooted in representation, anchored in accountability, and driven by empathy, was embodied by the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference,” he continued, “paving the way for a fairer, safer, and more prosperous world for all.”