Mumtaz Hussain
UNITED NATIONS: Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, addressed the Security Council during a briefing on the Middle East, focusing on Syria and chemical weapons.
Ambassador Jadoon welcomed the presence of representatives from the Syrian Arab Republic and Türkiye. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s opposition to the use of chemical weapons “by anyone, anywhere, and under any circumstances” and emphasized the country’s commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) as a pillar of the global disarmament regime.
Pakistan supports the Convention’s universal adherence, full and effective implementation, and the impartiality of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Ambassador Jadoon noted that Syria had witnessed sustained progress over the past year across internal and international tracks, creating an opportunity to advance stability, recovery, and reconciliation.
Highlighting the Security Council’s visit to Damascus last month, he said the trip conveyed a message of solidarity and allowed members to witness first-hand the realities on the ground, reinforcing the importance of sustained engagement.
He stressed Pakistan’s strong support for Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and its backing of an inclusive, Syrian-owned, and Syrian-led political process.
At the same time, Ambassador Jadoon expressed concern that Israeli military strikes in Syrian territory had impeded OPCW’s technical work and noted that terrorism and the presence of foreign fighters continued to pose security challenges.
The Ambassador welcomed Syria’s commitment to fully implement the CWC, secure suspected chemical weapons sites, and cooperate with the OPCW Technical Secretariat.
He emphasized the importance of enabling the Technical Secretariat to carry out independent verification to eliminate suspected chemical weapons and prevent proliferation, noting that the re-establishment of a continuous OPCW presence in Syria in October 2025 would promote this objective.
Highlighting the need to bridge the gap between Syria’s obligations under the CWC and its capacity to fulfill them, Ambassador Jadoon underlined the importance of continued international support.
He also welcomed the recent decision by the CWC Conference of the States Parties in November 2025 to reinstate Syria’s rights and privileges and the appointment of Syria’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW.
He expressed hope that ongoing engagement between the Technical Secretariat and Syrian authorities would build on positive momentum to resolve all outstanding issues and close the Syrian chemical weapons file in full compliance with the CWC and Security Council resolutions.
