Pakistan urges UN to act against Israeli strikes in Syria

Mumtaz Hussain 

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has condemned Israel’s recent airstrikes in Syria and called on the UN Security Council to take immediate action to halt violations of Syrian sovereignty.

Speaking at a Security Council briefing on the situation in Syria, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Israeli attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure had caused casualties and posed a serious threat to regional peace.

“These illegal military actions are setting dangerous precedents and must not be normalized,” he said. “The Security Council must send a clear message that the UN Charter and Syria’s sovereignty must be upheld.”

He warned that continued escalation could ignite a wider conflict, especially at a time when diplomacy and reconstruction should be the global focus.

Referring to the Council’s Presidential Statement of March 14, which reaffirmed Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Ambassador Asim said Israel’s actions directly violate international consensus.

He also denounced what he described as a “deeply troubling pattern” of Israeli aggression, illegal military presence in the Area of Separation, and declarations of indefinite occupation.

Calling for Israel’s full withdrawal from the occupied Golan Heights in accordance with Security Council resolution 497, the envoy reiterated Pakistan’s support for a Syrian-led political process under resolution 2254.

He warned that external interference must not derail recent political progress in Syria, including the formation of a transitional government and institutional reforms.

The Pakistani envoy also highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Syria, saying the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure was worsening the situation for over 16 million people already in need.

“We are ready to work with Council members and the penholders to ensure accountability and uphold international law,” he said.