United Nations (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has called for stronger international cooperation to ensure artificial intelligence does not become another arena for an arms race, stressing that human judgement and control must remain central to the development and deployment of AI.
Addressing a UN Security Council briefing on artificial intelligence and international security on Thursday, Dar said AI was rapidly transforming societies, economies and security environments, with growing implications for international and regional peace.
He described AI as a cross-cutting dual-use technology and a potential force multiplier that was shaping a new phase of modern warfare.
Dar said the foremost priority should be to preserve human judgement and control throughout the design, development and integration of AI systems.
“Humans must remain in control,” he said, stressing that people should determine the structures governing AI systems as well as the limits on the speed and nature of their future capabilities.
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Dar called for guardrails, regulations and governance frameworks to prevent AI from becoming another component of the global arms race.
In the military domain, he advocated restraint and confidence-building measures to reduce the risks of miscalculation, particularly as AI could accelerate decision-making processes during crises.
The foreign minister also highlighted the growing risks associated with AI-enabled misinformation, fake news and cyberattacks, including attacks on critical infrastructure by both state and non-state actors.
He urged the international community to take concrete steps to address emerging gaps and challenges with implications for global peace and security.
Dar also cautioned that efforts to regulate the pace of AI development should not become a mechanism for restricting access to advanced technologies.
He argued that if a small number of countries or actors determine the pace of AI development while others are held back through restrictions, existing technological disparities could deepen.
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According to Dar, a safety agenda could potentially become a form of technological exclusion if developing countries are prevented from participating meaningfully in the AI ecosystem.
“The risks of uncontrolled AI would be borne by all; decisions on how to manage them cannot rest with a handful of companies or capitals,” Dar said.
He called for AI governance to be addressed through open, representative and inclusive international forums with universal participation under UN auspices.
Dar welcomed the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, held in Geneva this year, and said Pakistan supported international efforts to harness the benefits of AI while addressing its associated risks collectively.
He also highlighted Pakistan’s participation as a founding member of China’s initiative to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).
Dar described the initiative as a step toward promoting the development of AI “for good, and for all”. The foreign minister further stressed the importance of confidence-building measures in addressing risks linked to military and foundational AI systems.
He said practical mechanisms were needed to reduce mistrust, prevent accidental escalation and manage emerging security risks associated with increasingly advanced AI technologies.
Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation on AI and said Islamabad would work with UN member states to help bridge the global AI divide and promote equitable access to AI technologies in support of peace and development.
