The vagaries and vicissitudes of international relations are often marked by moments that define a nation’s true mettle, strength, ethos and standing on the global stage.
This November, Pakistan is poised to witness such a moment. The Senate of Pakistan, under the visionary stewardship of Chairman Senator Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, will host the inaugural conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC) in Islamabad. This gathering, centred on the vital theme of ‘Peace, Security and Development’, is not merely another diplomatic event. It is a powerful affirmation of Pakistan’s re-emergence as a key player in shaping the global discourse on our collective future.
The honour bestowed upon Chairman Gilani, as the founding chairman of this pivotal forum comprising over 45 parliamentary speakers, is a diplomatic triumph for the entire nation. It is a recognition of his personal commitment and of Pakistan’s enduring belief in the power of dialogue. Under his leadership, the Senate has actively championed parliamentary diplomacy, transforming it from a ceremonial concept into a dynamic tool for building bridges and fostering understanding. This conference is the culmination of those efforts.
This landmark event resonates deeply with a series of recent, significant and strategic achievements in our foreign policy based on peace, mutual respect and cooperation as per the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
On the security front, Pakistan, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the impeccable command of Field Marshal COAS Syed Asim Munir, has demonstrated unwavering resolve in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity against recent wanton attacks and belligerence from India and Afghanistan. As the prime minister aptly stated in his UN General Assembly address, “Global peace, harmony and shared prosperity can best be advanced through dialogue, tolerance and understanding”.
Therefore, true to our peaceful ethos, we have consistently paired this resolve with a responsible hand extended for dialogue and de-escalation. This balanced approach, rooted in the unfaltering belief in peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, embodies the very principles the ISC seeks to promote.
Our credentials as a force to reckon with for global peace are long-standing. From being one of the world’s largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions to our pivotal role in facilitating the Afghan peace process and our principled stance on the Palestinian crisis, Pakistan has consistently been on the right side of history. Our recent landmark security agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia further solidifies our role as a reliable partner for regional stability.
The international community has taken note. Our election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026, and our subsequent presidency in July 2025, are testaments to this renewed global confidence. Our leadership roles as vice-chair of the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee and chair of the 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee place us at the heart of critical international security deliberations.
The Senate’s membership in key IPU bodies on Democracy, Human Rights and Young Parliamentarians also shows our commitment to inclusive global governance. Even US President Donald Trump acknowledged Pakistan’s pivotal role, a nod to the robustness of our ties with Washington, which continue to deepen alongside our relationships with European, South American and other regional nations across the continents.
As chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, I firmly believe that the forthcoming ISC conference being hosted by the Pakistan Senate is a promising continuation of this positive momentum. It offers Pakistan a unique platform to project its soft image as a moderate, progressive and peace-loving nation. It allows us to transition from being a participant in global dialogues to convening them, shaping the agenda on issues that matter most to our people and the world: climate justice, equitable development and sustainable peace.
This conference is more than a meeting. It is a statement. It declares that Pakistan is ready to lead, not through coercion, but through consensus. I once again congratulate and commend Chairman of Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani for taking this noble initiative in the form of the forthcoming ISC conference in Islamabad, as it promises a future where our parliamentary diplomacy works in lockstep with our foreign policy to secure a more peaceful and prosperous world for generations to come. Let us welcome the world to Islamabad with open arms and a shared commitment to a better tomorrow.
The writer is a member of the Senate of Pakistan.