ISLAMABAD, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday called for renewed regional cooperation to address rising security, economic and climate challenges in South Asia, warning that multilateralism and global governance mechanisms were under increasing strain.
Speaking at the opening of the Islamabad Conclave 2025, hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, an Islamabad-based think tank, Dar said the region needed a fundamental rethinking of its architecture to move beyond zero-sum politics and historical grievances.
Dar said the global order was marked by growing polarization, with conflicts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa adding to instability. He said multilateral institutions were under pressure as some states resorted to unilateral actions. "Multilateralism is under assault," he said, stressing the need for dialogue and diplomacy.
The minister said Pakistan opposed bloc politics and zero-sum approaches and supported an open, inclusive and cooperative regional framework. As an elected member of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026, Pakistan would contribute to efforts for international peace and security, he added.
He said rising extremist ideologies, political populism and Islamophobia were further straining global stability.
Dar said South Asia, home to more than a quarter of the world's population, faced persistent development challenges, including poverty, inequality, malnutrition and weak connectivity. Intra-regional trade remained low, while the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation had been largely inactive for more than a decade, he noted.
"Pakistan envisions a South Asia where connectivity replaces divisions, economies grow in synergy, disputes are resolved peacefully in accordance with international legitimacy, and peace is maintained with dignity," he said. Pakistan remained committed to working with all partners to help the region realize its full potential. ■