Special Correspondent
UNITED NATIONS: At the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan has formally called for the abolition or strict limitation of the veto power held by permanent members, arguing that it has become a major obstacle to global peace and effective decision-making.
Speaking during the third round of intergovernmental negotiations in New York, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said repeated deadlocks in the Council are largely due to misuse of veto authority by permanent members.
He described the veto as an outdated mechanism that no longer reflects modern global realities, adding that proposals to extend veto privileges to new permanent members are contradictory and would further complicate international governance.
Pakistan emphasized that its position is clear: either the veto power should be completely abolished or its use should be significantly restricted through stricter conditions.
Ambassador Ahmad also rejected any expansion of permanent membership that includes veto privileges, warning that such changes would deepen existing inequalities and hinder meaningful reform.
He called for greater transparency and accountability in the use of veto power and suggested enhancing the role of the United Nations General Assembly to ensure broader oversight.
As part of proposed reforms, Pakistan recommended increasing the number of elected, non-permanent members in the Security Council to create a more balanced distribution of power.
According to the proposal, a larger and more representative Council would make it more difficult for any single country to block resolutions without broader opposition.
The ambassador added that Security Council reform must be approached as a comprehensive package, ensuring fairness and avoiding special privileges for any nation.
