- Peace more than absence of war — rooted in justice, equality, and development, president says in a message on UN’s Int’l Day of Peace
- Highlights deprivations in Palestine and IIOJK as threat to world peace, recalling bold stands of ZAB and Benazir Bhutto for peace and rights
- Stresses Pakistan’s role in UN peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, calling for empowering youth to confront extremism, inequality, and climate change
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the international community to prioritize dialogue, cooperation, and development over weapons and conflict, emphasizing that Pakistan stands ready to play its constructive role in advancing global peace.
In his message on the occasion of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, observed annually on September 21, the President said that peace must not be defined merely as the absence of war but as the promotion of justice, equality, and sustainable development.
“Today, when a battle is going on in the world between the rule of law and might is right, Pakistan is not only standing on the right side of history but is also playing its full role in ensuring regional and global stability,” he remarked. He noted that Pakistan’s balanced relations with even warring global powers had earned it recognition as a partner in problem-solving. “The world is appreciating Pakistan’s role in regional and global peace today,” he added.
Highlighting Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to peace and justice, the president recalled the contributions of national leaders who championed these ideals. “Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took a bold stand for the rights of developing countries and for world peace, while Shaheed Benazir Bhutto dedicated her life to peace, democracy, women’s rights, and the eradication of extremism across the globe. Their vision—that peace and justice are the foundations of sustainable development—continues to guide us today,” he stated.
Reiterating Pakistan’s principled stance on unresolved global conflicts, President Zardari stressed that true peace cannot be achieved without justice and equality among nations. “The decades-long deprivations of the people of Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir continue to shake the global conscience. Without granting the right to self-determination to the people of these regions, world peace will remain incomplete,” he said.
The President underlined Pakistan’s active role in promoting peace, citing its decades-long service in UN peacekeeping missions, humanitarian assistance to disaster- and conflict-affected nations, and consistent support for dialogue and cooperation at the international level.
He also drew attention to the challenges faced by today’s youth, who, he said, are grappling with some of the most daunting crises in human history — ranging from growing global conflicts and extremism to climate change, economic inequality, and the spread of misinformation in the digital age. “We must empower our youth so that they embrace the values of peace, tolerance, and dialogue, and lead the world towards a more secure and just future,” he urged.
Concluding his message, President Zardari prayed for global harmony: “I pray to Allah Almighty to illuminate the world with the true light of peace, justice, and mutual respect. Ameen.”
