On July 23, 2026, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to Manila to represent his nation at the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting — a gathering where 27 states sit together to tend to the fragile architecture of Asia-Pacific peace. Pakistan has held a seat at this table since 2004, and its continued presence reflects an enduring conviction that multilateral dialogue, however imperfect, remains one of diplomacy's most durable tools. In a region where maritime tensions, terrorism, and great-power rivalry press against one another, the act of sho