Asim Munir, UN Chief Guterres Discuss Kashmir, Afghanistan Terrorism and Regional Security at GHQ
By Shahnoor Saqib — SCN News
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed Islamabad's commitment to international peace during talks with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday, as the two discussed regional security, Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty and terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.
Guterres met Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi during his official visit to Pakistan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations. The meeting covered matters of mutual interest, the prevailing regional security environment and the United Nations' role in promoting international peace and security.
The two sides exchanged views on regional stability and the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, as well as India's decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. Terrorism emanating from Afghanistan was also discussed as Pakistan continues to raise concerns over militant groups it says operate from Afghan territory.
Munir reiterated Pakistan's commitment to international peace and highlighted the country's longstanding contribution to United Nations peacekeeping missions. He also praised the UN's role under Guterres in advancing international peace, stability and humanitarian cooperation.
Guterres paid tribute to the sacrifices made by Pakistan and its armed forces in the fight against terrorism and acknowledged their contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. He also recognised Pakistan's continued commitment to international peace and security and praised its efforts to seek peaceful solutions to regional conflicts.
Pakistan has been one of the United Nations' longstanding contributors to peacekeeping operations, deploying military and police personnel to missions in conflict zones over several decades. Peacekeeping has remained a prominent theme during Guterres' visit, with the UN chief highlighting Pakistan's contribution to multilateral security efforts at a time of widening conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
The discussion on Jammu and Kashmir came as Islamabad continues to call for a settlement of the dispute in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Pakistan has also raised India's continued abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty in its diplomatic engagements, arguing that water-sharing arrangements should remain protected from wider political disputes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
New Delhi has maintained a different position on Kashmir and has rejected third-party involvement in the dispute, saying issues with Pakistan should be addressed bilaterally. India has also defended its position on the Indus Waters Treaty, while Islamabad has warned that uncertainty surrounding the agreement could add another source of tension to already strained bilateral relations.
Security along Pakistan's western frontier was another major element of the talks. Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other militants of using Afghan territory to plan and carry out attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation Afghanistan's Taliban authorities have rejected.
Pakistan has intensified diplomatic pressure over the issue as militant attacks have continued to pose a major security challenge, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Islamabad says Kabul must prevent Afghan territory from being used against Pakistan, while Afghan authorities maintain they do not permit their territory to be used to threaten neighbouring states.
Guterres' meeting with Munir formed part of a wider series of high-level engagements during the UN chief's visit to Pakistan from October 6 to 8. The secretary-general has also held talks with Pakistan's civilian leadership on regional and global security, Afghanistan, Palestine, Kashmir, counter-terrorism and the future of multilateral diplomacy.
A day earlier, Guterres met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, where the two discussed regional and international peace and security. Dar briefed the UN chief on Pakistan's positions on Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty and reiterated Islamabad's preference for dialogue and diplomacy in resolving disputes.
Guterres also praised Pakistan's diplomatic role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation, including its efforts related to negotiations between the United States and Iran. During his Pakistan visit, the secretary-general has described the country as an important contributor to multilateral diplomacy at a time when international institutions face growing pressure from wars and geopolitical rivalry.
Pakistan's decades-long hosting of Afghan refugees has also featured prominently during the visit. Guterres has acknowledged the burden Pakistan has carried in hosting millions of Afghans over several decades while stressing that refugee returns should take place voluntarily, safely and with dignity.
The GHQ meeting placed Pakistan's military and security concerns alongside its wider diplomatic role at the United Nations. For Islamabad, the talks provided another opportunity to raise Kashmir, water security and cross-border terrorism directly with the head of the world body while underscoring Pakistan's record in UN peacekeeping.
Guterres' acknowledgement of Pakistan's peacekeeping contribution and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism also reinforced a central theme of his visit: Pakistan's role in international security and multilateral diplomacy as conflicts from the Middle East to South Asia continue to test the international system.