(MENAFN) Pakistan called on South Asian countries on Wednesday to move past years of confrontation and conflict, emphasizing the need for dialogue, collaboration, and regional integration to tackle shared challenges, according to reports.

Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, addressed an event in Islamabad, highlighting that the Cold War largely sidelined South Asia, leaving the region with limited peace benefits and compelling nations to “think really hard” about their future.

“Are we doomed to remain mired in confrontation and conflict while other regions progress and prosper? The answer should be an emphatic ‘No,’” he said.

Dar, without naming specific countries, stressed that South Asian nations must abandon zero-sum thinking and cultivate a culture of peaceful coexistence, dialogue, economic interdependence, and cooperative solutions that benefit all.

"It is equally essential to build an edifice grounded firmly in the principles of open and inclusive regionalism," he added.

He also reaffirmed that Pakistan views the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as the key platform for regional collaboration and urged the removal of “artificial obstacles” that have hindered its effectiveness.

By prioritizing cooperation and dialogue over confrontation, Dar expressed hope that South Asia could achieve the integration and growth levels seen in other parts of the world.

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