UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has warned that if international law is allowed to bend before power or short-term political interests, the world could slide into deeper instability and conflict.
Addressing a debate at the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stressed that the rule of law is essential for peace, justice, and collective security.
He said the global commitment to international law is facing a serious test, as unilateral actions by states have eroded trust in the international legal system.
Ambassador Iftikhar cautioned that normalizing unilateral measures weakens collective security and fuels instability. “If law yields to power, conflicts will intensify, instability will deepen, and peaceful coexistence will be placed at risk,” he said.
Referring to South Asia, the envoy stated that Pakistan itself had been a victim of such violations. He accused India of committing aggression last year by violating Pakistan’s sovereignty, adding that India’s “illegal occupation” of Jammu and Kashmir remains the core cause of instability in the region.
He said Pakistan exercised its right to self-defense in a responsible, cautious, and proportionate manner, sending a clear message that coercion and aggression are unacceptable.
Ambassador Iftikhar added that respect for international law must be the sole guiding principle in relations among states, asserting that durable global peace and stability can only be ensured through adherence to established international norms.
