NEW YORK: While underlining that there must be no space for selective compliance or legal exceptionalism, Pakistan called for the upholding and application of international law including the core principles of the UN Charter more consistently, more courageously and more faithfully.
Speaking at the International Law Year in Review 2026 Conference in Singapore, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, urged a pushback against the erosion of treaty compliance, drawing attention to India’s illegal and unilateral act of putting into abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), advocated restraint over use of force, and called for better and fuller implementation of UN Security Council resolutions.
He was addressing the concluding session of the Conference titled “International Law in Action.” He shared Pakistan’s perspective on the primacy of international law for the maintenance of international peace and security and sustenance of the rules based international order.
The Pakistan UN Ambassador highlighted the unanimous adoption of UNSC Resolution 2788 under Pakistan’s Presidency of the Council in July last year, which, he said, reaffirms the centrality of peaceful settlement of disputes despite a deeply divisive environment in the Council.
Appreciating the significant work of the ICJ and ILC, Ambassador Asim emphasized the need for progressive development of international law in the face of new and emerging challenges including AI, cyber, and autonomous weapons.
The Ambassador noted that despite the challenges, the vast majority of member states have deep faith in the UN and multilateralism.
He stressed the need for the continued efforts to reform and adapt the UN and the Security Council structures to the contemporary ideals of democracy and accountability – a reform that does not exacerbate the fundamental flaws entrenched in permanent membership and veto, rather enhances the relative weight and power of the elected members.
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