Mumtaz Hussain
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has warned against the potential negative consequences of protracted conflicts, including its expansion and spillover effects.
The country emphasized that conflicts, especially those that remain active for longer durations, carry a greater risk of miscalculation and escalation, arguing that regrettably, this pattern is being witnessed at the moment.
Delivering a national statement during the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council convened at the request of Romania, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, reiterated Pakistan’s continued advocacy of dialogue and diplomacy for the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict.
He said that further escalation only risks transforming this crisis into a larger confrontation with wider implications for regional and global peace and security.
Taking note of Romania’s request for the Security Council on the reported violation of its airspace, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s unequivocal support for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all States, as enshrined in the UN Charter.
These principles form the bedrock of inter-State relations and must always be fully respected, he said.
He termed the reported incursion of armed drones into the airspace of neighbouring countries as alarming, and expressed Pakistan’s deep regret over the reported civilian casualties, and destruction of civilian infrastructure resulting from such incidents.
Ambassador Asim said that the conflict in Ukraine has witnessed a precarious dimension to modern warfare i.e., the relentless use of armed drones.
He said that while it has affected battlefield dynamics, the evolving landscape of humanitarian challenges associated with these modern technologies remains a matter of concern and must be addressed within the rubric of IHL and its principles.
The Pakistan Permanent Representative underlined the need for bringing the Ukraine conflict to an end, stating that doing so requires renewed commitment to the core principles of UN Charter, a genuine accommodation of legitimate security interests of all sides, and conformity with the existing multilateral instruments.
“We, therefore, see an early resumption of the United States-facilitated dialogue process as the most credible path forward. This channel, if reinvigorated, can provide a mutually acceptable way out of this devastating conflict,” he stated.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that military means could not bring about lasting peace in the region and emphasized the need for a sustained and meaningful dialogue.
In this regard, he underscored the imperative for an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities and urged all sides to recommit earnestly to the path of peace.
