‘We do not want credit for stopping wars; we want a future where wars do not start’: Naqvi

Pakistan has called for stronger international cooperation, improved intelligence sharing and joint efforts to combat terrorism, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi saying that lasting peace depends on dialogue, trust and sincere efforts by all parties.

Addressing an audience in Doha, Naqvi said Pakistan had suffered greatly from terrorism and insecurity, with thousands of its citizens, soldiers and police personnel losing their lives. He said the country continued to fight terrorism, describing it as a common enemy that required a coordinated response. “We do not want credit for stopping wars. We want a future where wars do not start,” he said.

He emphasised that Pakistan was not merely asking other countries to cooperate but had also made significant contributions to international peace and security.

“Terrorism is a common enemy. We need stronger cooperation, better intelligence sharing and joint efforts to defeat it,” Naqvi said.

“For decades our soldiers and policemen have served in United Nations peacekeeping missions,” he said, adding that Pakistani peacekeepers had helped protect civilians, support local police and restore peace in conflict-affected countries.

Naqvi said Pakistan was proud of the service and sacrifices of its personnel deployed on UN missions.

Reflecting on recent regional developments, the interior minister outlined three lessons for preventing and resolving conflicts: the doors to dialogue should never be closed, trust was essential for negotiations, and peace required sincere efforts from everyone involved.

“Never close the doors to dialogue. Trust is the most important key for any kind of talk. And thirdly, peace requires sincere efforts from everyone,” he said.

Naqvi stressed that no country could secure regional peace on its own, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to supporting dialogue, stability and cooperation.

“Pakistan is proud of the role it has played in recent peace efforts. We will continue to support dialogue, peace and cooperation because we believe that winning peace is far more important than winning a war,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Naqvi said Pakistan’s objective went beyond receiving recognition for helping end conflicts, emphasising the need to prevent wars from breaking out in the first place.