"Remarks by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, During the Opening Ceremony of the Conference "Future We Want: Global Initiative for Young Leaders"(31 July 2026)*******Excellencies and Dear Young Leaders,Professor Chabib, Ambassador AnatolioLet me at the outset thank Italian Mission and Italian Diplomatic Academy for bringing together bright young minds. Pakistan has one of the youngest populations in the world around 65 percent.2. The United Nations was founded eighty-one years ago with a profound purpose: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. Since then, its work has rested on three mutually reinforcing pillars: maintaining international peace and security, promoting and protecting human rights, and advancing sustainable development. These pillars reinforce one another. Peace creates the conditions for development to flourish. Respect for human rights strengthens peace. Inclusive development, in turn, helps address many of the underlying causes of instability. We are in the midst of the selection process of new Secretary General. These are the fundamental questions being posed to the candidates for the next Secretary-General. Today, however, I wish to focus on the first pillarpeace.3. When we talk of peace, peace is not simply the absence of conflict. It is built on justice, dialogue, mutual respect, and a genuine commitment to resolving differences through peaceful means. It requires patience, trust, compromise, and fidelity to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.4. Yet, we gather at a time when armed conflicts, foreign occupation, and deepening polarization continue to cause immense suffering and undermine confidence in international institutions. These challenges demand renewed commitment, stronger partnerships, and effective multilateral action in pursuit of peace.5. This is precisely why multilateralism remains indispensable. No nation, regardless of its size or influence, can address today's interconnected challenges on its own. Lasting peace can only be advanced through collective responsibility, inclusive diplomacy, respect for international law, and institutions that bring nations together in pursuit of common solutions. And the United Nations remains the principal forum where dialogue can prevail over division and where differences can be addressed through peaceful engagement.6. For Pakistan, this is not simply a matter of policyit is a matter of conviction. Pakistan's foreign policy has consistently been guided by the principles of peaceful coexistence, sovereign equality, mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation. Coming from South Asia, a region that has experienced the far-reaching consequences of conflict, we understand the immense value of peace and the heavy price paid when it is absent.7. Accordingly, Pakistan has consistently championed the peaceful settlement of disputes and preventive diplomacy. During our current tenure on the Security Council as a non-permanent member, we worked closely with fellow Council members to strengthen the mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes. This collective effort culminated in the unanimous adoption last year of Security Council Resolution 2788 presented by Pakistan on peaceful settlement of disputes. The resolution reflects the shared understanding that dialogue should remain at the heart of international efforts to prevent and resolve conflict.8. During the recent conflict in West Asia between Iran and the United States, Pakistan consistently advocated restraint, dialogue, and de-escalation. Working with regional and international partners, Pakistan supported diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and creating space for peaceful engagement which culminated in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. This reflects our longstanding belief that diplomacy offers the most durable pathway to peace.9. Governments, however, cannot accomplish this task alone, you need other stakeholders, civil society, private sector. Young people have an indispensable role to play. You belong to the most connected generation in history. You have unprecedented opportunities to exchange ideas, build friendships across borders, and deepen understanding among diverse cultures. At the same time, you face challenges ranging from disinformation and polarization to growing intolerance and mistrust. The choices you make in responding to these challenges will help shape the character of international cooperation in the decades ahead.10. We must recognize that peacebuilding does not begin only in conference halls or negotiating rooms. It takes root in classrooms, universities, communities, workplaces, and increasingly on digital platforms. Every effort to promote understanding, every initiative that brings people together, and every action that advances inclusion and mutual respect contributes to a more peaceful and resilient world.11. I see in you - future diplomats, policymakers, sportsmen, sportswomen, academics, entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders. You will help shape the institutions and ideas of tomorrow. I encourage you to cultivate curiosity, listen with empathy, embrace diversity, and remain open to perspectives different from your own. Some of the most reasonable achievements in international relations have come from those who were willing to build bridges where others were discouraged by barriers and who sought common ground where differences appeared insurmountable.12. Your generation also has a unique opportunity to strengthen multilateralism. By believing in cooperation, respecting international law, and engaging constructively across borders, you can help ensure that international institutions remain responsive, inclusive, and effective in addressing the challenges of our time. The future of peace will depend not only on the decisions of governments, but also on the commitment of young leaders to uphold dialogue, solidarity, and our shared humanity.13. The future we seek will be shaped by those who choose cooperation over division, dialogue over confrontation, and hope over fear. I am confident that many of you gathered here today will be among those leaders. I wish you every success in your deliberations at Model UN, and more importantly, in your future endeavors and contributions to building a more peaceful, just, and inclusive world.I thank you."