Asif terms mediation pathway to peace

Pakistan on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to advancing mediation as a shared responsibility, saying a renewed partnership between the United Nations and regional organisations could breathe new life into global peace efforts.

In a statement delivered at the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends on Mediation under the Theme: "Re-affirming Cooperation between the UN and Regional Organizations in Mediation", Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said, "Mediation remains a highly impactful tool available in the UN Charter for peaceful settlement of disputes."

While thanking the co-chairs Finland and Türkiye for convening the ministerial meeting, he said, "We support the efforts of this group to promote mediation and retain a high-level focus on this vital aspect."

The minister said, "Mediation offers a pathway, from conflict and confrontation, towards dialogue, compromise and sustainable peace. At a time when mistrust and geopolitical rivalries are intensifying, mediation must be revitalised as a cornerstone of preventive diplomacy.

He said, "For Pakistan, mediation is not just an abstract principle but a coveted goal, as we live in a region where unresolved disputes continue to fester. The Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains one of the oldest items on the agenda of the UN Security Council."

"For nearly eight decades, the Kashmiri people have awaited the fulfillment of their right to self-determination guaranteed to them under numerous Security Council resolutions. The resistance to mediation by one party in South Asia undermines regional stability. It is precisely in such situations that reaffirmation of commitment to mediation, to the Charter, and to international law is imperative," he explained.

The minister said mediation offered an effective and enduring pathway to peace.

"Pakistan has always championed peaceful settlement of disputes through mediation, dialogue and diplomacy. During Pakistan's Presidency of the Security Council in July this year, we sought to place mediation at the heart of the Council's work," he observed.