ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday urged the international community to uphold the UN Charter and push for a negotiated end to the Ukraine war, warning that a “totally avoidable” crisis in the Middle East has begun to undermine ongoing peace efforts.
Speaking at a United Nations Security Council briefing on Ukraine, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the conflict, now in its fifth year, had exacted a heavy toll on civilians and economies while deepening global divisions and complicating diplomacy.
The meeting took place amid renewed but fragile efforts to revive negotiations between the warring sides, including initiatives backed by the United States and previous rounds of talks such as those held in Istanbul in 2022.
However, diplomats say attention has been increasingly diverted by escalating tensions in the Middle East following last month’s strikes by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran, which triggered retaliatory responses and raised fears of a broader regional conflict.
“Regrettably, the unfolding of another totally avoidable crisis in the Middle East has ... impacted the negotiations process on Ukraine,” Ahmad said while addressing the Council.
“We ... hope that the next round of these negotiations would take place at the earliest, and that all parties would continue their efforts for peace, demonstrate genuine political will, build mutual understanding and engage constructively to achieve a negotiated settlement of the conflict, beginning with an immediate cessation of hostilities,” he added.
Ahmad said bringing a lasting peace would require a firm commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and a focus on a mutually acceptable solution that addresses the legitimate security concerns of all sides.
“From the very first days of this conflict, Pakistan has stood on the side of dialogue and diplomacy,” he continued. “We remain convinced that there is no military solution to this conflict, and that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through sustained, structured, and meaningful dialogue.”
The Pakistani diplomat said his country would continue to support all initiatives aimed at bridging the divides and promoting the peaceful settlement of ongoing conflicts while upholding international law.
He reiterated Islamabad’s call for restraint, de-escalation and the resolution of all international disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.
