Spirit of cooperation

FOR almost 80 years, Pakistanis have served under the UN flag, helping communities recover from conflict and rebuild peace. Pakistan has also provided refuge to millions fleeing instability. Pakistan has helped make international cooperation possible. Today, that spirit matters more than ever. Countries may disagree on politics, economics, and security, but share challenges none can resolve alone. Cooperation protects national interests. The UN secretary-general’s message was clear during his recent visit to Pakistan : no country can tackle interconnected challenges alone. Conflict disrupts trade and raises food and energy costs; climate change threatens water, agriculture and livelihoods; pandemics and artificial intelligence bring cross-border risks and opportunities. For Pakistan, these connections are not theoretical.

The devastating floods of 2022 caused an estimated $30 billion in damage and economic losses, with women and children among those facing the most lasting consequences. The floods of 2025 brought another reminder of the human and economic costs of climate-related disasters. Building resilience requires strong national leadership, effective domestic resource allocation, and better development of vulnerable communities, but also international solidarity, climate finance, and partnerships. Pakistan’s recent diplomacy offers another illustration. The secretary-general praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between the United States and Iran. Such efforts cannot guarantee peace, but they show why diplomacy matters: even when interests diverge sharply, keeping channels open can create possibilities that confrontation alone cannot. Pakistan’s contribution to UN peacekeeping and its long-standing role in hosting refugees reflect the same…