ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations this week proposed collective action against the weaponization of outer space, citing proliferation of destructive weapons in the territory by major powers during a debate at the UN General Assembly. 

Munir Akram, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, was speaking at a debate at the General Assembly on Monday over Russia’s decision last month to veto a draft US-Japan resolution that called on countries to prevent an arms race in outer space. The Security Council rejected the resolution by a vote of 13 in favor to one against, with China abstaining from the vote.

The vote came after Washington accused Moscow of developing an anti-satellite nuclear weapon to put in space. Russia has denied the allegations, with its President Vladimir Putin saying Moscow was against putting nuclear weapons in space.

During his speech at the UN General Assembly, Akram said threats to security in and from outer space have “escalated sharply” in recent years, adding that it was evident from the placement of weapons in space. 

“Ambassador Munir Akram called for the issue of weaponization of outer space to be transmitted to the Conference on Disarmament for further consideration and urged collective action to preserve outer space for peaceful purposes,” a press release from Pakistan’s permanent mission to the UN said on Tuesday. 

Akram said Pakistan has always maintained a principled position that resolutions on global disarmament should be deliberated and concluded in a transparent manner. He called for doing so at appropriate forums such as the Conference on Disarmament, the UN Disarmament Commission, and the first Committee of the General Assembly.

“In his statement, Ambassador Akram underscored the gravity of the situation, citing the proliferation of weapons in space and the increasing militarization of outer space by major powers,” the statement said. “He expressed concern over the deployment of missile defense systems and their integration with outer space technologies, warning of the destabilizing impact on global and regional security.”

He said if nuclear weapons were deployed in outer space, it would constitute a violation of the Outer Space Treaty. Akram highlighted the need for multilateral cooperation, particularly within the Conference of Disarmament, to address growing threats posed by outer space’s weaponization.

Pakistan is eager to take strides in its own space program. China last Friday launched a Pakistani satellite, ‘ICUBE-Qamar’ or ICUBE-Q into outer space, which is set to enter the lunar orbit on a high-stakes moon mission to reach the lunar side. The launch was part of China’s Chang’e-6 mission, a planned robotic lunar exploration mission, that aims to obtain the first-ever soil and rock samples from the lunar far side and return them to Earth.

The satellite was designed and developed by IST (Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology) with China’s Shanghai University and Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO, state media had reported. 

A senior ICT official who was co-lead on the project said last week that this is Pakistan’s first deep space mission, describing it as a “historic moment.”

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) this week launched the national team’s kit for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to kick off next month in the United States and West Indies.

Cricket boards launch their national team’s kit before mega tournaments such as the World Cup. At a ceremony held in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Monday night, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi launched the Pakistan team’s “Matrix Jersey” at the Qaddafi Stadium. 

“Unveiled the new kit of Pakistan Cricket team!” Naqvi wrote on social media platform X. “Team Pakistan’s Green Matrix jersey is more than just a uniform; it’s a symbol of unity, representing every culture, and individual that makes up the rich fabric of our nation.”

The PCB chairman uploaded a video with his post in which star cricketers Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah can be seen with the PCB chairman checking out the new jerseys. 

Skipper Azam and his squad have left for Dubai from where they will travel to Ireland and England to play two separate T20I series. Pakistan will play three T20Is against Ireland in Dublin from May 12-14 before they take on 2022 World Champions England from May 22-30 in a four-match series. 

The series will be an important one for Pakistan as the team prepares for the T20 World Cup scheduled to kick off from June 2 in the US and West Indies.

Pakistan have a strong bowling line-up in the form of fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who played in two T20s against New Zealand after ending his retirement, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi.

Under Babar, Pakistan has done well in the last two T20 World Cups, reaching the semifinals in 2021 at the United Arab Emirates and losing to England in the final at the 2022 tournament in Australia.

Naqvi has promised a cash award of $100,000 to every player if the team wins the tournament.