Pakistan urges global youth to lead peace, strengthen multilateralism at UN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called on young people across the world to play a leading role in promoting peace, strengthening multilateralism and advancing international cooperation to address pressing global challenges.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference, "Future We Want: Global Initiative for Young Leaders," held at the United Nations Headquarters under the theme "Empowering Youth to Reinforce Multilateralism," Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the country's youthful population reflects its strong belief that young people are indispensable partners in building a peaceful and inclusive future.

He thanked the Permanent Mission of Italy and the Italian Diplomatic Academy for bringing together young leaders from around the world to discuss the future of multilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Asim said, "The United Nations was established to save future generations from the scourge of war, stressing that peace, human rights and sustainable development remain the three mutually reinforcing pillars of the UN system."

He emphasized that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but is founded on justice, dialogue, mutual respect and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter.

Highlighting growing global challenges, including armed conflicts, foreign occupation and increasing polarization, the Pakistani envoy underscored the need for effective multilateralism, saying, "No country can tackle today's interconnected challenges alone." 

He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to peaceful coexistence, sovereign equality, dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The ambassador also highlighted Pakistan's contribution to multilateral diplomacy by recalling the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2788 (2025), introduced by Pakistan during its presidency of the Council, reaffirming the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.

Referring to the recent conflict in West Asia, Ambassador Asim said, "Pakistan consistently advocated restraint, dialogue and de-escalation while supporting diplomatic efforts that resulted in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding."

Addressing the young participants, he said that peacebuilding begins not only in conference halls but also in classrooms, universities, communities and digital spaces. 

He encouraged youth to promote understanding, embrace diversity, reject intolerance and misinformation, and build bridges across cultures.

Describing young people as future diplomats, policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators and community leaders, Ambassador Asim urged them to uphold international law, strengthen dialogue and foster solidarity across borders to reinforce multilateralism.

He expressed confidence that the next generation would help build a more peaceful, just and inclusive international order and concluded by encouraging participants to choose cooperation over division, dialogue over confrontation and hope over fear.