UN chief Guterres wraps up 3-day Pakistan visit: who he met and what was discussed

Key takeaways

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres was in Pakistan on an official visit from 6 to 8 October 2026, at the invitation of Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
• He met PM Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
• President Zardari awarded him the Nishan-e-Imtiaz.
• In a speech in Islamabad, Guterres praised Pakistan's UN peacekeeping record and its efforts to help bring peace between the United States and Iran.
• It was his first trip outside New York since this year's UN General Assembly.

Who he met

• President Asif Ali Zardari (6 Oct): conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz on Guterres at a special ceremony at the Presidency.
• Ishaq Dar, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister: raised Kashmir, India's decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty "in abeyance" (which Pakistan calls a violation of international law), Palestine, Afghanistan and counterterrorism, according to the Foreign Office.
• PM Shehbaz Sharif (7 Oct): the PM's Office said they discussed UN reform, peacekeeping, Kashmir, Palestine, Pakistan's mediation efforts and affordable financing for developing countries. Shehbaz Sharif also posted that he pressed for action against terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil.
• Field Marshal Asim Munir (Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief) and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi: discussed regional security.

He also visited the headquarters of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) in Islamabad and was briefed at the National Disaster Management Authority on early-warning systems.

What Guterres said in Islamabad

At the Foreign Service Academy on 7 October, Guterres:

• said Pakistan has contributed to UN peacekeeping more consistently than almost any other country;
• commended Pakistan's efforts to help make peace between the US and Iran, calling Islamabad a centre for dialogue and de-escalation;
• recalled his visit during the 2022 floods, noting that Pakistan produces around 1% of global emissions but is one of the countries hit hardest by climate disasters;
• called for reform of the international financial system so developing countries don't have to choose between paying debt and investing in their future;
• said Pakistan's progress also depends on human rights, the rule of law and civic space.

He opened with a line in Urdu, "Dil khush ho gaya".

Why the visit matters

For Pakistan, a visit by the UN chief is a diplomatic boost at a time when it is positioning itself as a mediator in the region, and it gave Islamabad a high-level platform to raise Kashmir, the Indus Waters Treaty and Afghanistan. For the UN, it highlighted the role of countries like Pakistan in peacekeeping and climate diplomacy.

Also today: National Resilience Day

8 October is also Pakistan's National Resilience Day, marking 21 years since the 2005 earthquake. In his message, PM Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the victims and to rescue workers, and said climate-resilient development must be built into national planning.