UN chief Antonio Guterres reaches Islamabad for talks with Pakistan leaders

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for an official visit to Pakistan, during which he is scheduled to meet the country’s top leadership and discuss regional and international developments. The visit, from October 6 to 8, is taking place at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

The Foreign Office said the visit would “offer an important opportunity to reiterate Pakistan’s long-standing cooperation with the United Nations, and to exchange views on regional and international developments”. It also said the visit would provide an opportunity to acknowledge the “able leadership and vital contributions” of Guterres in the areas of international peace and development.

On arrival, Guterres was received by Acting Foreign Secretary Ambassador Nabeel Muni. During the visit, he will hold talks with President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Dar, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Muinir, the Foreign Office said.

Guterres is also scheduled to visit the headquarters of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan and attend a briefing at Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority. He will have other engagements as well, during which Pakistan will highlight its efforts to strengthen multilateralism and international peace and security, along with its progress in disaster preparedness and early warning.

According to the Foreign Office, the visit reflects Pakistan’s “unwavering support for multilateralism with the UN at its core” and its abiding commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Overall, the three-day visit is expected to combine meetings with Pakistan’s leadership with discussions on wider regional and global issues.