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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday underscored the need for concrete measures to safeguard children in conflict zones, urging sustained investment in rehabilitation, reintegration, and psycho-social support programs to restore dignity, rebuild futures, and prevent cycles of re-recruitment. According to a statement issued on the X account of Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the UN, the statement called for vigilant oversight and ending impunity for violators; protection of schools from attacks and military use; and reinforcement of safe education systems in conflict zones. The statement, quoting Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Permanent Representative of the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said that compliance must be ensured with International Humanitarian Law, Convention on the Rights of Child, and the principles of international law.&nbsp; &ldquo;The rapid surge in armed conflicts all over the world has exposed them to a host of grave violations ranging from killing and maiming, and attacks on schools and hospitals, to denial of humanitarian access,&rdquo; the ambassador said, according to the statement. Citing Israel&rsquo;s more than 12,000 incidences of grave violations against children in occupied Palestinian territory in one year, the ambassador said that plight of children in situations of foreign occupation continues to worsen.&nbsp; The ambassador said that to comprehensively redress the plight of children, there was a need to focus on eliminating root causes and prioritizing preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution and dispute settlement by peaceful means. The ambassador said that Pakistan would continue to work constructively to ensure that collective efforts translate into a safe and prosperous future for children.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan at UNSC stress protection for children in conflict zones, investment in rehabilitation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reiterated its steadfast support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Libya, emphasizing that a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process remains the only viable path toward lasting peace, stability, and reconciliation in the country. Delivering Pakistan&rsquo;s statement during the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Libya and the International Criminal Court (ICC), Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, thanked ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan for presenting the Prosecutor&rsquo;s 31st report pursuant to Security Council resolution 1970 (2011), said a statement shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s mission to the UN on X on Saturday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2057918030944846108&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=67e6182b53c08c969d763e97ce417781c3f778d8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 656px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2057918030944846108"></iframe></div></div>He took note of the developments outlined in the report, including progress in investigative activities, cooperation with Libyan authorities, and engagement with international and regional partners. Ambassador Ahmad also noted the commencement of pre-trial proceedings following the surrender of El Hishri to the Court &mdash; the first surrender of a suspect to the ICC in the Libya situation. He underscored that accountability efforts should reinforce the broader objective of peace and reconciliation in Libya. Ambassador Ahmad stressed that consistency, objectivity, fairness, and non-selectivity are essential for maintaining the legitimacy and credibility of international accountability mechanisms.&nbsp;Credible, impartial accountabilityWhile stating that Pakistan is not a party to the Rome Statute, the ambassador reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to credible and impartial accountability for serious international crimes through the uniform application of international law. He further emphasized the importance of constructive cooperation between the ICC and Libyan authorities in implementing Security Council resolution 1970, while fully respecting Libya&rsquo;s judicial sovereignty, national institutions, and legitimate concerns. The ambassador underlined that national ownership and capacity-building should remain central to all accountability efforts. Pakistan also expressed support for all Libyan-led initiatives aimed at preserving judicial unity, strengthening constitutional oversight, upholding the rule of law, and advancing institution-building in the country. In conclusion, Ambassador Ahmad reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s support for all efforts aimed at promoting peace, stability, reconciliation, and durable institution-building in Libya.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad highlights importance of fairness and consistency in international accountability mechanisms at the United Nations.

At UNSC, Pakistan reaffirms support for Libya’s sovereignty, Libyan-led political process

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s permanent representative to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar has expressed his concern that despite progress in promoting peace, xenophobia, racism, and intolerance still exist in the world and emphasized that the UN is crucial for building understanding and fighting hate and discrimination. Presenting a new proposal at the UN General Assembly about a &quot;Culture of Peace,&quot; Pakistan&#39;s representative Asim Iftikhar said that many countries supported the idea.&nbsp; Pakistan and the Philippines have asked countries of the world to talk more across different religions and cultures. They believe this can lead to global peace, harmony, and better understanding between everyone. The goal is to encourage harmony, tolerance, and cooperation between different religions, nations, and communities.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 744px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2057214487879356776&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=61601b42cc2b48eb92c6b555dd0ef28a8a8d2dcc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The representative made it clear that talking between different religions, cultures, and civilizations is really important for everyone to live together peacefully and for lasting global peace. He added that countries need to keep working towards societies where everyone is included, diversity is valued, and basic rights and freedoms are respected. The representative reminded everyone of the UN Charter&#39;s Preamble, which says member states promise &quot;to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors.&quot; He also brought up UNESCO&#39;s Constitution, which states, &quot;since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.&quot; Pakistan and the Philippines brought up this resolution, which happens every two years, again.&nbsp; They wanted to keep pushing the main idea of solidarity between faiths and harmony between cultures, something that was confirmed again at the UN General Assembly&#39;s 78th session. The proposed resolution clearly states that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, and countries are committed to protecting human rights and basic freedoms for all.&nbsp; It also emphasizes that violence is never okay, even when responding to religious intolerance, and should never be tied to any religion, nationality, or ethnic group. To finish, the countries sponsoring the resolution hoped it would pass again with everyone agreeing. This, they felt, would send a powerful message of unity, peace, and harmony to the entire world.

Pakistan and the Philippines urged the international community at the UN to strengthen interfaith harmony, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence through dialogue, as they presented a resolution promoting global peace and understanding.

Pakistan, Philippines call for global unity through interfaith dialogue at UN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has urged international attention toward &ldquo;systemic annexation&rdquo; of the occupied West Bank by Israel.&nbsp;This was said in a statement by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, at the Arria Formula meeting on the situation in West Bank including East Jerusalem held on Friday. In his statement, shared on X by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the UN on Saturday, Ambassador Ahmad stated, &ldquo;While international attention is consumed by multiple crises across the region, the systematic annexation of the occupied West Bank, expansion of illegal settlements, demolitions, land seizures and forced displacement of Palestinians continue unabated, and this requires our attention.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2052855422407823867&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2972af924f26f3b371baffdc0f8494bca3dc472e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2052855422407823867"></iframe></div></div>The ambassador underscored &ldquo;Israeli policies and illegal actions, unprecedented in scale and impact are undermining the prospects for a viable Palestinian state.&rdquo;&nbsp; He said Pakistan condemns &ldquo;Israel&rsquo;s ongoing legislative and administrative measures aimed at entrenching its illegal occupation and transforming de facto annexation into de jure control.&rdquo;&nbsp;Illegal settlements&nbsp;The ambassador demanded that those actions must be reversed immediately.&nbsp; He said that &ldquo;In nearly four years, the occupying power has approved 102 new settlements, nearly doubling the 127 settlements that existed previously.&rdquo; &ldquo;At the same time, settler violence is escalating at an unprecedented rate,&rdquo; Ambassador Ahmad said, urging, &ldquo;All settler violence and settlement activities must cease, in full compliance with international law and relevant Council resolutions, including 2334.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Deteriorating humanitarian situation&rsquo;&nbsp;He also expressed alarm at the &ldquo;deteriorating economic and humanitarian situation&rdquo; in the occupied Palestinian territory.&nbsp; Ambassador Ahmad said that the &ldquo;annexation is on full throttle as we have been briefed&rdquo;, adding, &ldquo;The urgency for intervention is clear.&rdquo;&nbsp; Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s position on the issue, he said, &ldquo;Pakistan reiterates that the only viable path to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East lies in ending the illegal Israeli occupation of all Arab territories and realizing the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, through the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.&rdquo;

Islamabad’s ambassador to the UN says, ‘the systematic annexation of the occupied West Bank, expansion of illegal settlements, demolitions, land seizures and forced displacement of Palestinians continue unabated, and this requires our attention.’ 

Pakistan urges global attention to ‘systematic annexation’ of occupied West Bank

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday urged a stronger United Nations (UN) peacekeeping role and the need for an immediate ceasefire in DRC Congo, said a press release shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the UN on X on Friday. Pakistan voiced concern over the continued deterioration of the security situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), warning that ongoing offensives and territorial expansion by AFC/M23 are undermining confidence in peace efforts and complicating implementation of MONUSCO&rsquo;s mandate, the statement said.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2037335349974671757&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=adfd6a342647e915de2db6184b35155c220c71ea&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2037335349974671757"></iframe></div></div>Addressing the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the DRC, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, underscored the urgency of stabilizing conditions on the ground and said MONUSCO remains relevant as an impartial presence capable of supporting peace efforts and strengthening protection of civilians in current circumstances. Ambassador Ahmad said that Pakistan remains particularly concerned about developments in North and South Kivu. Cessation of hostilitiesHe noted that despite commitments undertaken under the Doha Framework and the Washington Agreement, AFC/M23 continues its offensives and territorial gains. Pakistan stressed the need for full implementation of Security Council resolution 2773, including cessation of hostilities, M23&rsquo;s withdrawal from areas under its control, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC. The statement further said that Pakistan took note of progress toward operationalizing ceasefire oversight and verification arrangements. &ldquo;This includes agreement on the terms of reference of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism and initial preparatory steps undertaken by MONUSCO, as mandated in resolution 2808,&rdquo; it added. However, the ambassador emphasized that an actual ceasefire has not yet taken hold on the ground. In this context, he supported the secretary-general&rsquo;s emphasis on a phased and conditions-based approach to MONUSCO&rsquo;s potential role in ceasefire monitoring.&nbsp;Security of peacekeepersAmbassador Ahmad said that prerequisites outlined by the Secretary-General&mdash;particularly those related to freedom of movement, access to key infrastructure, and the safety and security of peacekeepers&mdash;must be met for MONUSCO to perform any monitoring role meaningfully. He stressed that protecting peacekeepers must remain central to decisions on MONUSCO&rsquo;s posture. The Pakistan Permanent Representative also highlighted the operational impact of contingency planning cuts. He said that 2,674 troops, military experts, police personnel, and civilian staff were repatriated or downsized, and that of the 11,500 troops authorized by the Council, only 7,879 remain on the ground. He said reduced troop levels, civilian staffing, and intelligence and surveillance capabilities have adversely affected mandate delivery and increased risks for peacekeepers. He stressed that any additional responsibilities for MONUSCO, including potential ceasefire monitoring tasks, must be matched with commensurate resources and capabilities. Ambassador Ahmad said that MONUSCO&rsquo;s experience, logistical reach, and presence in key population centers remain critical, and expressed openness to a strengthened role for the Mission, including in South Kivu, once conditions permit. He also reaffirmed support for diplomatic efforts led by the African Union, alongside initiatives by Qatar, the United States, and the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, anchored in respect for the DRC&rsquo;s unity and sovereignty.

Reaffirms support for diplomatic efforts led by the African Union, alongside initiatives by Qatar, the United States, and the UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, anchored in respect for the DRC’s unity and sovereignty.

Pakistan urges need for immediate ceasefire in DRC Congo

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, on Thursday accused India of engaging in &ldquo;water terrorism&rdquo; and urged the international community to ensure adherence to the Indus Waters Treaty during a Security Council briefing on &ldquo;Energy, Critical Minerals, and Security.&rdquo; Addressing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/disrupting-indus-waters-treaty-poses-immediate-humanitarian-security-risks-pakistan-at-un" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">water resources</a>, Ahmad said: &ldquo;This applies equally to water, the most critical of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indias-indus-treaty-abeyance-breaches-international-law-pakistan-tells-un" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">natural resources</a>.&rdquo; He added that &ldquo;shared water resources are indispensable for sustaining life, and for sustainable development and prosperity.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 721px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2029705649064640652&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=5c93a164c4385a40ae1731c435bc75a3afefd2f6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2029705649064640652"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;We reject the weaponization of water to choke this lifeline for lower riparians, also threatening regional peace, security and stability,&rdquo; he said. India&#39;s &#39;water terrorism&#39;&nbsp; Referring to India, Ahmad said: &ldquo;Pakistan itself is confronted with water terrorism by India that has resorted to unilateral and unlawful action of putting in abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty in violation of international law and the provisions of that Treaty.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;International community must impress upon India to return to full compliance with the Indus Waters Treaty, which remains valid and in-force as per the August 2025 award of the Court of Arbitration.&rdquo; Speaking at the session, Ahmad said: &ldquo;Access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is essential for development, stability and prosperity.&rdquo; He added that the global shift toward renewable energy, electric mobility, battery storage, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure and grid modernization has &ldquo;sharply increased the demand for critical minerals.&rdquo; &ldquo;This upsurge has generated new geopolitical and geo-economic pressures,&rdquo; he said, warning that &ldquo;if not managed responsibly, competition over natural resources can affect supply chains, aggravate tensions, undermine sovereignty, and contribute to instability.&rdquo; Highlighting risks in conflict-affected regions, Ahmad said: &ldquo;Experience shows that where mineral wealth intersects with weak governance, entrenched poverty and external interference, the risks of instability increase.&rdquo; He noted that &ldquo;illicit extraction, trafficking networks and opaque financial flows have fuelled armed conflict and violence, weakened state institutions and deprived populations of legitimate revenues.&rdquo; He said, &ldquo;The scramble for natural resources and its linkage to conflict and instability is therefore not new.&rdquo; Ahmad added that Pakistan believes &ldquo;natural resources must serve as instruments of economic development and shared prosperity, and not coercion or conflict.&rdquo;

Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, on Thursday accused India of engaging in 'water terrorism' and urged the international community to ensure adherence to the Indus Waters Treaty during a Security Council briefing on 'Energy, Critical Minerals, and Security.'



Pakistan urges action on India for Indus Waters Treaty compliance

Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s UN mission, along with 84 other member states, issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning Israel&#39;s <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israel-accused-of-move-expanding-jerusalem-borders-for-first-time-since-1967" style="color:#0073e6;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">encroaching</a>&nbsp;control of the West Bank, which critics say amounts to de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory. &quot;We strongly condemn unilateral Israeli decisions and measures aimed at expanding Israel&#39;s unlawful presence in the West Bank,&quot; the statement reads. &quot;Such decisions are contrary to Israel&#39;s obligations under international law and must be immediately reversed.&quot; &quot;We underline in this regard our strong opposition to any form of annexation.&quot;<div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><blockquote class="instagram-media" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU4Cfr8jS3c/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank"><div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div><div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"> </div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div><div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div><div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div></div></div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div><div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU4Cfr8jS3c/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" target="_blank">A post shared by Pakistan TV Digital (@pakistantvdigital)</a></div></blockquote></div>Separately, according to the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad joined the ambassadors and permanent representatives at the press stakeout organized by the State of Palestine. &ldquo;These unilateral actions constitute clear violations of international law and relevant UN resolutions,&rdquo; the post on X issued by the mission said, adding that the actions undermined the ongoing efforts to &ldquo;promote peace and stability in the region run counter to the spirit and objectives of the Comprehensive Peace Plan, and seriously jeopardize the prospects of achieving a just and lasting settlement based on the Two-State Solution.&rdquo; <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-condemns-israeli-west-bank-land-seizures-demands-international-action" style="color:#0073e6;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Last week</a>, Israel&#39;s security cabinet approved a series of measures backed by far-right ministers to tighten control over areas of the West Bank administered by the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo accords, in place since the 1990s. On Sunday, Israel&#39;s government also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israel-approves-west-bank-land-as-state-property-continues-gaza-bombardment-report" style="color:#0073e6;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">approved</a>&nbsp;a process to register land in the West Bank as &quot;state property&quot; in a move that drew further international condemnation. &quot;We reiterate our rejection of all measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and status of the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,&quot; the statement continued. &quot;Such measures violate international law, undermine the ongoing efforts for peace and stability in the region, run counter to the Comprehensive Plan, and jeopardize the prospect of reaching a peace agreement ending the conflict.&quot; The statement was issued on behalf of 85 member nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, and Russia, as well as the international organizations of the European Union, League of Arab States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on Israel to reverse its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israels-west-bank-mega-land-grab-draws-international-outrage" style="color:#0073e6;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">land registration</a>&nbsp;policy, calling it &quot;destabilizing&quot; and &quot;unlawful.&quot; Excluding Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, more than 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts, which are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/new-israeli-west-bank-measures-draw-palestinian-regional-backlash" style="color:#0073e6;" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">illegal</a>&nbsp;under international law. Around three million Palestinians live in the territory, which Israel has occupied since 1967.

Middle East

Joint statement condemns Israel's encroaching control of the West Bank, critics say it amounts to de facto annexation of the Palestinian territory; UN secretary-general calls on Israel to reverse its land registration policy, calls it "destabilizing" and "unlawful."

Pakistan, 84 UN member states condemn Israeli West Bank measures

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan on Thursday expressed serious concern at the UN over the presence of militant groups operating from Afghan territory, saying they were responsible for deadly attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told the council that Afghan soil was being used by groups including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the Majeed Brigade, Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K), and Al-Qaeda to plan and orchestrate attacks. &ldquo;These groups have been responsible for some of the most heinous terrorist attacks against Pakistan and incidents of hostage-taking,&rdquo; Ahmad said. He said recent attacks claimed by the BLA and Islamic State had resulted in the deaths of 80 Pakistanis, describing them as &ldquo;dastardly and cowardly.&rdquo; Pakistan voted in favor of a UN resolution extending the mandate of the monitoring team overseeing sanctions against the Taliban for another 12 months, Ahmad said, welcoming the unanimous adoption of the measure and praising US efforts to build consensus. Ahmad reiterated Islamabad&rsquo;s call for Afghan territory not to be used for attacks against neighboring countries and urged efforts to prevent external actors from exploiting the situation. He said the resolution sent a clear message to Afghanistan&rsquo;s Taliban authorities that their territory should not be used to threaten other countries and that Afghan groups or individuals should not support militants operating abroad. The resolution also urged member states to prevent kidnappers and militant groups from benefiting from ransom payments or political concessions and to ensure the safe release of hostages, he added. Ahmad called on the Taliban to honor their counter-terrorism commitments and take sustained and verifiable action against militant groups. He also pointed to broader challenges facing Afghanistan, including a humanitarian crisis, deteriorating human rights conditions, particularly for women and girls, economic difficulties, natural disasters, political exclusion, and drug trafficking. Ahmad said the UN monitoring team played an important role in providing the council with insights on Afghanistan&rsquo;s security landscape and expressed hope it would continue to support the sanctions committee&rsquo;s work. &ldquo;It is for the Taliban to decide what path they wish to choose for Afghanistan, whether isolation or peace and prosperity as a responsible member of the international community,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;

Security

Pakistan told the UN Security Council that militant groups operating from Afghan territory are responsible for deadly attacks in Pakistan, urging the Taliban to curb terrorism and uphold counter-terrorism commitments

Pakistan raises concern over militant groups in Afghanistan at UN

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan told the UN Security Council (UNSC) that years of fighting in Ukraine have proven there is no military solution, urging all sides to pursue restraint, ceasefire, and a renewed commitment to dialogue and diplomacy. &ldquo;Pakistan has stated that the continued fighting in Ukraine over the years has made it amply clear to all the stakeholders that there is no military solution to the conflict,&rdquo; said a press release shared by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the UN on its X account on Friday. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1991644595986526420&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=dd0b837670ac8363ea19a5b5da4113d92dc99ca5&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;Pakistan again reiterated its call for all parties to demonstrate restraint, take meaningful strides towards de-escalation, and work earnestly towards a ceasefire through a sustained and meaningful dialogue process,&rdquo; it said. &quot;Delivering the national statement in the UNSC on the situation in Ukraine, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, regretted that the diplomatic momentum generated at the start of the year by the adoption of UNSCR 2774 &ndash; which perhaps could have been more effective if it were endorsed unanimously, has yet to bear fruit,&rdquo; the press release said. &lsquo;Push for peace&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We welcome the renewed push for peace, including mediation efforts by T&uuml;rkiye and Qatar. A solution that is acceptable to all relevant parties can silence the guns and ensure lasting peace,&rdquo; he said. He said that given the complex historical context and the intricate nature of the Ukraine conflict, Pakistan believes that the path forward should be guided by wisdom and dialogue rather than continued hostilities and confrontation. Ambassador Iftikhar urged all parties to demonstrate political will, engage in a meaningful, structured, and result-oriented dialogue that addresses the security concerns of all sides; most importantly, it is anchored in the principles of the UN Charter and international law; and respects the relevant multilateral agreements, the press release said. &ldquo;A ceasefire is the first logical and necessary step in this process,&rdquo; he maintained. &lsquo;Dialogue and diplomacy&rsquo;&nbsp;He said that Pakistan is a firm believer in the power of dialogue and diplomacy and will continue to support all endeavors aimed at resolving the issue peacefully and in a just, comprehensive, and durable manner. He said that Pakistan is deeply perturbed by the expansion of hostilities, targeting of civilians and civil infrastructure, and the exponentially mounting humanitarian toll. &ldquo;Protection of civilian lives and infrastructure should remain paramount. We reiterate the call for upholding the principles of International humanitarian law,&rdquo; he added.

Pakistan reiterates ‘call for all parties to demonstrate restraint, take meaningful strides towards de-escalation, and work earnestly towards a ceasefire’; welcomes the ‘renewed push for peace, including mediation efforts by Türkiye and Qatar.’

Articles tagged with "Pakistan at UN"

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