Major Diplomatic Success for Pakistan as Conference on Disarmament Adopts Annual Report by Consensus

Geneva: Pakistan has achieved a significant diplomatic success at the international level by securing consensus on the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) under its presidency, diplomatic sources said.

According to diplomatic sources, the Conference on Disarmament, chaired by Tahir Hussain Andrabi, adopted its annual report by consensus for submission to the United Nations General Assembly. As President of the Conference, Andrabi played a key role in the preparation, consultations and successful adoption of the report.

Pakistan achieved the outcome three days before the conclusion of the Conference’s session, the sources said, describing it as a notable diplomatic accomplishment given the prevailing international security environment.

The sources said the consensus was reached despite decades of mistrust among major powers, deep divisions over sensitive disarmament and nuclear issues, and active conflicts in different parts of the world.

The Conference was unable to reach agreement this year on its programme of work and the establishment of subsidiary bodies. In this backdrop, the adoption of the annual report has emerged as the most significant consensus-based decision reached by the Conference in 2026, diplomatic sources said.

“When no other major decision could be achieved by consensus this year, the Pakistani presidency succeeded in delivering an outcome where failure was not an option,” the sources said.

Under Andrabi’s leadership, Pakistan worked meticulously and through sustained consultations to gradually build consensus on a meaningful and comprehensive annual report. The Pakistani presidency carefully took into account the core positions and sensitivities of major delegations while assessing various proposals and their acceptable limits.

During the four-week presidency, Pakistan conducted extensive open and informal consultations, alongside a comprehensive series of bilateral meetings with delegations representing all regional and political groups, including major powers.

Diplomatic sources said the Pakistani presidency did not attempt to impose any particular text. Instead, Andrabi worked on developing compromise language, informally testing it with relevant delegations before formally introducing it.

Proposals that offered room for consensus were incorporated into revised versions of the text, while Pakistan, in its capacity as President, avoided pushing issues where consensus was not possible, the sources said.

The Pakistani presidency also had to navigate some of the Conference’s most difficult issues, including disagreements over the participation of observer states and the lack of progress in negotiations. Member states held significantly different positions on these matters.

Despite pressure from different sides, Pakistan maintained a balanced approach and ensured that the broader consensus remained intact, the sources said.

The Conference on Disarmament has 65 member states, and consensus among all members is required for the adoption of its annual report. Its membership includes all nuclear-weapon states as well as countries of major military and political significance, making consensus on the report an important diplomatic achievement.

According to diplomatic sources, the current month marked Pakistan’s sixth and final presidency of the Conference on Disarmament during its 2026 session.

The Conference is required to prepare an annual report and submit it to the United Nations General Assembly every year.

The adoption of the report demonstrates that meaningful progress remains possible in selected areas when sufficient political will is combined with sustained and carefully managed diplomacy, the sources said.

The annual report will now be transmitted to the United Nations General Assembly, where it will be considered by the First Committee. Pakistan will also be required to lead negotiations in October on the resolution concerning the annual report to be presented before the General Assembly.