Pakistan has renewed its call on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take concrete steps toward resolving the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute — a conflict it says continues to fuel tensions between India and Pakistan.
Addressing journalists in New York after assuming the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue. “The Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains a grave and unresolved matter that poses a continuous threat to regional peace and stability,” he stated.
He stressed that it is the moral and legal responsibility of the Council, particularly its permanent members, to ensure the full implementation of its own resolutions. “These resolutions are not symbolic — they are binding commitments that need action, not just acknowledgment,” the ambassador said.
Ambassador Asim noted that Pakistan takes on the UNSC presidency with a deep sense of duty and a firm commitment to the principles of the UN Charter. “Our approach is grounded in the peaceful settlement of disputes, sovereign equality, respect for international law, and the strengthening of multilateralism,” he explained.
As part of its agenda during the presidency, Pakistan will convene two key high-level events. The first is an open debate titled “Promoting International Peace and Security through Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes,” which will also focus on cooperation between the UN and regional organizations such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The second major event will be Pakistan’s chairing of the Security Council’s Quarterly Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, with special emphasis on the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The session has been elevated to the ministerial level, reflecting the urgency and scale of the crisis.
Ambassador Asim reiterated Pakistan’s position that global peace cannot be achieved without justice — whether in South Asia or the Middle East. “The international community must step up. Words must translate into actions. Only then can we uphold the credibility and purpose of the United Nations,” he concluded.
