ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday assumed the presidency of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva, with Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi presiding over the meetings, the Foreign Office said.

In its statement, it added that Pakistan holds the final presidency of the conference’s 2026 session and will conclude its proceedings for the year.

During its presidency, Pakistan will steer negotiations on the CD’s annual report and the corresponding resolution in the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, it added.

“Pakistan has initiated consultations in its role as President of the CD. Today, Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi chaired a meeting of the previous Presidents of the Conference for the 2026 session and held consultations with representatives of the regional groups,” it added.

The CD is the world’s single multilateral forum for negotiating disarmament and arms control treaties, the statement said.

Based at the United Nations Office at Geneva, it brings together 65 member states, including all states possessing nuclear weapons.

Its agenda includes the cessation of the nuclear arms race, prevention of nuclear war, and prevention of the weaponization of outer space, among other matters.

The CD and its predecessor bodies have negotiated instruments including the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, it said.

Pakistan’s statement said its assumption of the presidency “reaffirms the trust placed by the international community” in its diplomatic leadership and constructive role in multilateral arms control and disarmament diplomacy.