UN chief departs after concluding three-day official visit to Pakistan

Guterres holds extensive engagements with Pakistan’s leadership and senior officials during visit

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres departed Pakistan on Thursday after a three-day official visit from October 6 to 8, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said, as Islamabad reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter”.

In a post on X, the MoFA said the visit “also reflected Pakistan’s deep appreciation for the Secretary-General’s visionary leadership and his contributions to international peace and development”.

UN Secretary-General H.E. António Guterres @antonioguterres departed Pakistan following a three-day official visit from 6 to 8 October 2026.

The visit reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. It also… pic.twitter.com/2rNaKv5aDC

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 8, 2026

In a separate statement, the Foreign Office (FO) said UN Secretary-General Guterres held meetings with Pakistan's leadership and senior officials during his official visit to the country from October 6 to 8.

The secretary-general held “extensive engagements with Pakistan's leadership and senior officials”, according to the statement.

On Tuesday, Guterres met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the UN Charter, multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes through “dialogue and diplomacy”.

“The DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan's call for a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people,” the statement said.

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UN Secretary-General Concludes Visit to Pakistan

🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/9M8BTB0Spu

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 8, 2026

Dar also briefed Guterres on India's unilateral decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. The decision was described by the deputy prime minister as a “blatant violation of international law”, according to the FO.

“The DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate struggle for self-determination and statehood,” the statement said.

The two sides also discussed regional and international peace and security, including Afghanistan and counter-terrorism, as well as sustainable development, climate change and the future of multilateralism.

Guterres also called on President Asif Ali Zardari on October 6. The meeting was followed by a special investiture ceremony at the Presidency, where Zardari conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz on the UN secretary-general in recognition of his “distinguished international service and contribution to global peace and development”.

A day earlier, Guterres called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and exchanged views on “issues of regional and international importance”.

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He also held meetings with the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control, Mohsin Naqvi.

“In his engagements, the Secretary-General commended Pakistan's longstanding contribution to the United Nations, including its significant role in UN peacekeeping and its efforts to promote dialogue, mediation, and international cooperation,” the FO said.

The UN chief also visited the headquarters of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Islamabad. He attended a briefing at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), where Pakistan's progress in “disaster preparedness and early warning systems” was highlighted.

On Wednesday, Guterres participated as a guest speaker in a special talk at the Foreign Service Academy on “Strengthening Multilateralism in a Changing World: Geopolitics and the Role of the United Nations”.

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In his address, Guterres reflected on his longstanding association with Pakistan and highlighted the “generosity, resilience, and solidarity” of the Pakistani people.

The FO said the secretary-general's remarks drew on his two decades of service to the United Nations, including his time as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. “The visit provided an important opportunity to reaffirm Pakistan's longstanding partnership with the United Nations and to exchange views on key regional and international developments,” the FO said.

“It also underscored Pakistan's unwavering support for multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core, and its abiding commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,” it added.