Pakistan’s UN Conference on Disarmament presidency began on Monday, placing Islamabad at the head of the world’s principal multilateral forum for negotiating disarmament and arms control treaties. The Pakistani foreign ministry confirmed that the country had formally assumed the role, tasked with advancing international efforts to prevent nuclear war, halt the arms race and stop the weaponization of outer space.
A Central Role in Global Arms Control Diplomacy
The Conference on Disarmament, known as the CD, is based at the United Nations Office at Geneva and brings together 65 member states, including every state that possesses nuclear weapons. Its agenda centres on some of the most consequential issues in international security, among them the cessation of the nuclear arms race, the prevention of nuclear war and efforts to keep outer space free from weaponization.
Ambassador Tahir Hussain Andrabi, Pakistan’s additional secretary for arms control and disarmament and spokesperson for the Foreign Office, is presiding over the conference’s meetings during Pakistan’s term. According to the foreign ministry, Pakistan holds the final presidency of the CD’s 2026 session, meaning Islamabad will conclude the conference’s proceedings for the year.
During its presidency, Pakistan is expected to steer negotiations on the Annual Report of the Conference on Disarmament as well as the corresponding resolution to be taken up in the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. Both tasks require coordinating positions among a diverse group of member states, many of which hold differing views on how disarmament negotiations should proceed.
A Forum With a Consequential Track Record
The Conference on Disarmament and its predecessor bodies have negotiated some of the most significant instruments in the modern international security architecture. These include the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, agreements that continue to shape global norms around weapons of mass destruction and their control.
Given this history, the presidency carries considerable diplomatic weight. The Pakistani foreign ministry said that assuming the role reaffirms the trust placed by the international community in the country’s diplomatic leadership and its constructive role in multilateral arms control and disarmament diplomacy.
UN Conference on Disarmament Presidency – Pakistan Begins Consultations as President
The foreign ministry said Pakistan has already initiated consultations in its capacity as president of the CD, a step intended to lay the groundwork for the discussions to follow during its tenure. Officials described the presidency as placing Pakistan at the centre of the global discourse on arms control, disarmament and international peace and security.
The assumption of the Pakistan UN Conference on Disarmament presidency comes at a moment when questions surrounding nuclear proliferation, emerging space based military technology and regional security tensions remain prominent on the international agenda. As the CD’s final president for its 2026 session, Pakistan will be responsible for guiding the conference through its closing discussions and ensuring that the year’s negotiations are reflected accurately in the body’s formal reporting to the wider United Nations system.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, August 18th, 2026
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
