ISLAMABAD: A senior UN official has said that Pakistan is uniquely positioned to help address global challenges through its strategic location, active diplomacy, and role as a bridge between regions and civilizations.
Miguel Ángel Moratinos, United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, said this while referring to Pakistan’s role in the evolving international landscape.
The UN official was addressing a public talk hosted by the Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad (ISSI) here Tuesday.
Reaffirming the mission of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, he stressed that dialogue remains the most effective instrument for rebuilding trust, overcoming divisions, and shaping a more peaceful and inclusive world.
He commended Pakistan’s longstanding support for the United Nations, its contributions to UN peacekeeping, and its consistent commitment to multilateral cooperation. He also highlighted Pakistan’s rich civilizational heritage, noting that its history of cultural interaction offers valuable lessons for advancing dialogue and mutual understanding.
Miguel Ángel Moratinos noted that the international system stands at a defining inflection point, marked by growing geopolitical fragmentation, diminishing confidence in multilateral institutions, and an increasingly complex array of transnational challenges.
He argued that restoring dialogue, rebuilding trust in multilateralism, and strengthening intercultural understanding are no longer aspirational objectives but strategic imperatives for preserving international peace, security, and sustainable development.
Expressing concern over growing polarisation, religious intolerance, cultural divisions, and the spread of misinformation, Moratinos warned that diversity is too often portrayed as a source of division rather than recognised as one of humanity’s greatest strengths. He stressed that inclusive societies founded on pluralism, mutual respect, and intercultural dialogue are inherently more resilient and better equipped to prevent conflict, counter extremism, and promote peaceful coexistence.
In this regard, he reaffirmed the central role of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in fostering dialogue and strengthening understanding across cultures and civilizations.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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