Pakistan Calls for Renewed Regional Cooperation to Break Cycle of Conflict in South Asia
Pakistan on Wednesday urged South Asian nations to move beyond decades of confrontation and invest in meaningful dialogue, cooperation, and regional integration to confront shared challenges. The appeal was delivered by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during an event in Islamabad, where he warned that the region could no longer afford stagnation while other parts of the world advanced.
Dar noted that South Asia received few peace dividends during the Cold War era, a period he said largely overlooked the region’s needs and potential. This historical neglect, he argued, now requires South Asian nations to “think really hard” about the future they want to shape.
“Are we doomed to remain mired in confrontation and conflict while other regions progress and prosper? The answer should be an emphatic ‘No,’” Dar declared. Without naming specific countries, he stressed that the region must move past zero-sum rivalries and create an environment rooted in dialogue, peaceful coexistence, economic interdependence, and mutually beneficial cooperation.
Highlighting the importance of open and inclusive regionalism, Dar said South Asia needed a new vision for collective advancement. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), calling it Islamabad’s “preferred platform” for regional collaboration. He urged the removal of “artificial obstacles” that have hindered SAARC’s ability to function effectively in recent years.
Dar emphasized that by choosing cooperation over confrontation, South Asian countries could unlock opportunities for deeper integration and accelerated growth—levels already achieved by regions that embraced similar approaches.
He concluded with a call to action: South Asia, home to nearly a quarter of humanity, must reclaim its potential by prioritizing dialogue, rebuilding trust, and pursuing development strategies that benefit all.
