Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, a permanent ceasefire, and the resumption of the negotiation process.
At a briefing on the 1737 Committee (Iran) in the Security Council, the Pakistani ambassador urged all parties to exercise utmost restraint and avoid further escalation, and all our efforts are focused in this direction.
In his address, Permanent Representative Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed said that in July last year, the Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2788, which gave primary importance to the peaceful resolution of all disputes.
He said that we must urgently revive the spirit of the United Nations Charter and this resolution to overcome the current spiral of rising tensions and stop the deadly cycle that has sadly engulfed the region time and again in recent years.
Asim Iftikhar clarified that the Council is still divided on the issue of the 1737 Committee. Unfortunately, this division is also hindering consensus on the appointment of chairmen of the subsidiary bodies, which is having a significant impact on the work of these bodies.
He said that it is our position that matters related to the 1737 Committee should not be allowed to interfere with the normal work of the Council and its subsidiary bodies. We also take note of the fact that consensus could not be reached on the report on this matter, which should have formed the basis of today’s meeting.
The Pakistani ambassador also said that the developments since last June and the current situation that began with the unprovoked and unjustified attacks on Iran have had a profound impact on the context of the Iranian nuclear issue.
He said that unfortunately, the diplomatic impasse on the Iranian nuclear issue has further complicated an issue that has been steadily deteriorating for the past few months. What has not changed, however, is the continued importance of the fundamental principles and multilateral spirit that paved the way for the creation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2231 in 2015.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said that today, more than ever, even during the current conflict and rising tensions, it is clear that a lasting solution lies in embracing these tried-and-tested principles, not abandoning them and adopting short-sighted policies.
He said that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a unique agreement that reflected a mindset based on dialogue, diplomacy, and pragmatism. It was the result of very laborious and long but constructive negotiations.
The Pakistani ambassador said that the agreement provided a clear roadmap for comprehensively addressing the concerns of the parties on the basis of mutual efforts, and thus reflected the principle of peaceful resolution of disputes, which is enshrined in the fundamental purposes of the United Nations Charter. Pakistan had supported a negotiated solution to the issue, and this remains our fundamental position today.
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He said that in the same spirit, Pakistan had supported the draft resolution introduced last September, which aimed to provide a technical extension of Security Council Resolution 2231 by six months, to provide time for diplomatic engagement and negotiations. We had also supported the presidential draft resolution, which proposed to continue the lifting of sanctions in accordance with the terms of Resolution 2231.
The Pakistani ambassador said that it is clear that dialogue, diplomacy and constructive engagement are the only viable way forward. However, it is regrettable that diplomacy has been abandoned and military means have been preferred.
He said that Pakistan has made its position clear in this House and other forums on these developments. We have condemned all use of force, targeting of civilian infrastructure, and attacks on nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Attacks on nuclear facilities pose serious environmental and security risks to the local population and the people of the entire region.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) vital verification mandate should not be hindered in any way.
Asim Iftikhar said that there should be no obstacle to the vital verification mandate of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The IAEA is the institution that verifies the compliance of Member States with their obligations regarding nuclear safeguards in an objective, impartial and reliable manner on technical grounds.
He said that the IAEA should be enabled to fulfill this legal responsibility and its verification activities in Iran should resume without hindrance.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Afghanistan said that we reiterate our support for a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles for the negotiated resolution of all disputed issues, and this process should be in accordance with the rights, responsibilities and duties of the parties concerned. Only objective, fair and rules-based dialogue can advance the achievement of this goal.
