We live in an era marked by fragmentation. Geopolitical rivalries are intensifying, multilateral consensus is weakening and conflicts, both old and new, are testing the resilience of the international system. In such an environment, the importance of credible mediation cannot be overstated. Dialogue has become more difficult, yet more necessary than ever. Amid this turbulence, Qatar has steadily emerged as a bridge builder, a nation whose influence lies not in the projection of power but in the cultivation of trust. Over recent years, Qatar has facilitated dialogue in some of the world’s most complex crises. From supporting ceasefire and humanitarian arrangements in Gaza, to assisting in the reunification of children affected by the Russia-Ukraine war and hosting talks related to Afghanistan and parts of Africa, Doha has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to provide neutral ground when communication channels have otherwise broken down. These efforts, often conducted quietly and without fanfare, reflect a consistent diplomatic philosophy: that engagement, however difficult, is always preferable to estrangement. Successful mediation, however, is not an event, it is a process. It requires strategic patience, resilience and a long-term vision that extends beyond headlines. True peace is rarely immediate. It is built through incremental trust-building measures, sustained dialogue and what scholars describe as conflict transformation; the gradual reshaping of relationships, narratives and structures that underlie disputes. This deeper work does not always produce applause nor does it guarantee instant results. Yet it lays the foundation for durable stability. GROUNDED IN MUTUAL RESPECT AND SOVEREIGN EQUALITYQatar’s approach reflects precisely this understanding. Its leadership has consistently articulated a vision of a rules-based international order grounded in mutual respect, sovereign equality and peaceful coexistence. At a time when polarisation tempts nations toward rigid alignments, Qatar has chosen instead to remain accessible to diverse actors, regional powers, global stakeholders and multilateral institutions alike. This bridging role is not accidental. It stems from deliberate diplomacy, balanced foreign relations and an investment in dialogue as a strategic instrument. ENGAGING ALL SIDESQatar’s credibility derives from its ability to engage all sides without compromising its principles. It has proven that strategic influence does not depend on scale alone but on the ability to cultivate trust, practice quiet diplomacy and sustain engagement over time. For Pakistan, a country deeply committed to multilateralism and peaceful dispute resolution, Qatar’s mediation diplomacy is both admirable and instructive. In our own region and beyond, we understand that unresolved conflicts cast long shadows over development, stability and human dignity. The pursuit of peace, therefore, is not idealism, it is enlightened pragmatism. In a fragmented world, bridge builders are indispensable. They keep doors open when others close them. They maintain dialogue when rhetoric escalates. They remind the international community that sustainable peace rests not on coercion but on understanding. Qatar’s evolving role as a mediator is a testament to the power of strategic patience and principled engagement. It affirms that even in turbulent times, nations committed to dialogue can help steer the international system toward greater balance, stability and coexistence. The world needs more bridges and more builders. Because when dialogue survives, hope survives and where hope survives, peace remains possible.

North Korea is set to unveil new weapons development goals at its Ninth Party Congress this month, amid assessments that Pyongyang has checked off only part of a sweeping list ‌of capabilities that leader Kim Jong-un targeted at its 2021 Congress. While nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles ​remain central to Kim’s strategy, analysts say ‌the more mixed record lies in the conventional systems that could sharpen North Korea’s ability to find ‌targets, coordinate forces and apply pressure below the nuclear ‌threshold — including drones, submarines and space-based surveillance. In his report ‌to the Eighth Party Congress, Kim urged development of a range of systems, including hypersonic weapons, a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, and military reconnaissance satellites and drones, according to state media. The full report also referred to the design of a new nuclear-powered submarine as being in its “final examination” stage, and said work had been completed on “unmanned striking equipment”, “means of reconnaissance and detection” and a “military reconnaissance satellite”, among other electronic weapons. Since 2021, state media has repeatedly shown Kim overseeing tests of reconnaissance drones, while urging that unmanned systems and artificial intelligence be prioritised for modern warfare. A September analysis by 38 North, a US think-tank, said North Korea is expanding its drone programme and production capacity. The Institute for National Security Strategy, a ​think-tank run by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, also flagged in a September report Ukrainian officials’ claims that Russia set up production capacity in North Korea for Russian drones. “If this is true, North Korean-Russian drone co-operation goes beyond simple technology exchange and carries significant strategic implications ‌for the security environment on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia,” ​the report said, noting the “grave threat” posed to South Korea’s security apparatus. Kim has highlighted conventional strike ​capability as a core pillar, including “super-large” multiple rocket launcher drills and orders issued in late 2025 to increase production of rocket launchers that state media KCNA called the mainstay of modernised long-range artillery. South Korea’s military has also said North Korea supplied Russia with conventional systems such as 240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled howitzers, pointing to stockpiles and industrial capacity even under sanctions. In terms of its conventional arsenal, “the biggest achievement for Pyongyang was arms exports stemming from the Ukraine war,” said Yang Uk, a military expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. Massive exports of arms by North Korea cleared out its “dead stock” from wartime reserves and it is now “modernising step by step with resources freed up”, said Yang. In 2023, North Korea unveiled what it called a “tactical nuclear attack submarine” that ‌analysts said appears to be a modified Romeo-class ‌submarine, but South Korean officials questioned whether it was fully functional. In late December 2025, state media published photos of what it said was Kim inspecting the construction of an 8,700-tonne nuclear-powered submarine capable of launching surface-to-air missiles. Analysts say the submarine push signals intent, but that propulsion, sensors, weapons integration and crew proficiency remain major barriers for a heavily sanctioned state. “With submarines, they seem to have failed,” said Yang, arguing that after unveiling a new vessel in 2023, North Korea “still hasn’t even properly tested it, which suggests significant problems with submerging.” Claims of Russian support in submarine development are hard to prove, Yang said, adding that the bottleneck is integrating a nuclear reactor into a workable design. One of North Korea’s most consequential weapons ​goals from 2021 may be military reconnaissance from space. The country succeeded in putting its first military spy satellite in orbit in November 2023, though observers, including the US-based Heritage Foundation, said its capabilities were largely unknown. A later attempt to launch another reconnaissance satellite in May 2024 failed when the rocket exploded in flight. Kim vowed in a speech that the programme would continue, but Pyongyang has yet to announce any new launches.