Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday conferred the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, one of the country’s highest civil awards, on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in recognition of his international service and contribution to global peace. The honour was presented at a special investiture ceremony in Islamabad during Guterres’s three-day official visit to Pakistan. The award is the first to be conferred by Pakistan on a UN Secretary-General.

During a meeting with Guterres, Zardari also discussed Pakistan’s position on peace and stability in South Asia, the Indus Waters Treaty, regional diplomacy, Palestine, terrorism, climate change, UN peacekeeping and reform of the UN Security Council. According to Radio Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, members of the federal cabinet, lawmakers and members of the diplomatic corps attended the ceremony. Guterres, whose second five-year term as UN chief ends in December 2026, arrived in Pakistan earlier in the day.

At the meeting, Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability in South Asia. He conveyed Pakistan’s position that the Indus Waters Treaty is a binding international agreement and cannot be unilaterally suspended or placed in abeyance. India maintains that the treaty remains strictly in abeyance as a punitive measure against Pakistan’s continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. It was suspended in 2025 after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed.

The treaty, signed in 1960, gave India control over three of the six Indus basin rivers that carry about 20 per cent of the basin’s water, while Pakistan received rights to rivers carrying about 80 per cent.

Zardari said Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, including the Islamabad Talks, had been guided by the need for de-escalation, dialogue and the protection of human life.

He said Pakistan was ready to facilitate diplomacy wherever it could be helpful and stressed that there is no alternative to dialogue for addressing regional disputes. He also said Pakistan remains steadfast in its support for the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, and appreciated Guterres’s advocacy for Palestinian statehood and a two-state solution. He added that Pakistan would continue to support efforts towards implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The President said Pakistan continues to face terrorism from groups operating from Afghan territory and has shared evidence concerning external support to terrorist proxies targeting the country. He said Afghan territory must not be used against Pakistan or any other country. Zardari also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to dialogue and regional cooperation while safeguarding its people and territory in accordance with international law.

He highlighted Pakistan’s contribution to UN peacekeeping, noting that more than 270,000 Pakistani peacekeepers have served in 48 UN missions around the world. On climate change, he called for stronger international action on mitigation, adaptation and climate finance. Zardari also said Pakistan supports democratisation of the UN Security Council and opposes the induction or expansion of unelected membership, backing greater representation through elected, non-permanent members with equitable geographical representation. He also appreciated Guterres’s personal solidarity after the devastating 2022 floods.

Speaking on the occasion, Guterres acknowledged Pakistan’s hospitality in providing refuge to millions. He said he had witnessed the country’s solidarity and resilience in confronting terrorism. The ceremony and the subsequent meeting brought together Pakistan’s recognition of the UN chief’s global role and its articulation of positions on regional peace, security and international cooperation.