Pakistan takes helm at UN disarmament body

Pakistan on Monday assumed the presidency of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, placing Islamabad at the helm of the world's principal multilateral forum for negotiating arms control and disarmament treaties at a critical time for global security.

On Pakistan's behalf, Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi, Additional Secretary (Arms Control and Disarmament) and Spokesperson, presided over the meetings of the Conference.

Pakistan holds the final presidency of the CD's 2026 session and will consequently oversee the conclusion of its proceedings for the year.

During its presidency, Pakistan will steer consultations and negotiations on the Conference's Annual Report, as well as the corresponding resolution to be considered by the First Committee of the UN General Assembly.

As part of its initial engagements, Ambassador Andrabi chaired a meeting on Monday of the previous Presidents of the Conference for the 2026 session and held consultations with representatives of the regional groups.

The presidency comes at a time when the global arms control architecture is facing mounting challenges, including renewed nuclear tensions, stalled disarmament negotiations and concerns over the emergence of new technologies and the weaponisation of outer space.

The Conference on Disarmament, based at the United Nations Office at Geneva, has 65 member states, including all states possessing nuclear weapons. It is regarded as the world's single multilateral forum specifically mandated to negotiate disarmament and arms control treaties.

Its agenda includes some of the most consequential issues confronting international security, including the cessation of the nuclear arms race, prevention of nuclear war and prevention of an arms race in outer space, among other matters.

The CD and its predecessor bodies have played a central role in shaping the international security architecture, having negotiated major arms control and disarmament instruments including the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Pakistan's assumption of the presidency therefore gives Islamabad an opportunity to help facilitate dialogue among nuclear and non-nuclear states on issues that have remained politically contentious and, in several cases, deadlocked for years.

The presidency also provides Pakistan with a platform to reinforce its longstanding emphasis on strategic stability, nuclear risk reduction, non-proliferation and the peaceful resolution of international disputes through multilateral diplomacy.

According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan's assumption of the CD presidency at the current juncture reflects the confidence placed by the international community in its diplomatic leadership and constructive contribution to multilateral arms control and disarmament efforts.

It said the role places Pakistan at the centre of global discussions on arms control, disarmament, international peace and security.