With the Middle East witnessing the most intense exchange of fire between the United States and Iran since the ceasefire started, Pakistan has appealed to all sides to exercise restraint and “give peace a little more chance.”
Speaking in the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said that Pakistan, along with partners, has been making sincere efforts are to “break the momentum of hostilities, save lives and give diplomacy a chance.”
The Pakistani envoy underscored the need for restraint as the U.S. and Iran were locked in a renewed exchange of hostilities following the June 8 downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter by Iranian forces over the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation threatens a fragile ceasefire that was brokered in April
“As we work earnestly and painstakingly, together with our friends and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict, and especially when the final objective is just about to be achieved, we sincerely urge all sides to exercise restraint and give peace a little more chance.” the Pakistani envoy said during a discussion on ‘Non-proliferation (1737 Committee)”, which oversees the sanctions imposed by the 15-member Council on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Pakistan, he said, was deeply concerned at the ongoing situation in the region marked by renewed conflict and heightened tensions.
“Events of the last few days have amply underscored the fragility of the situation, the risk of escalation and the need for diplomatic efforts to come to fruition – sooner than later,” Ambassador Asim Ahmad said. The Middle East violence was a stark reminder of the dangers associated with a tenuous ceasefire and its unbearable consequences.
“The cycle of violence and instability must end for the good of regional and international peace, security and prosperity.”
“Regrettably,” he said, “the breakdown of diplomacy and outbreak of hostilities has also impacted the consideration of the Iran nuclear issue, pushing the parties further apart on this complex file. It also disrupted the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA’s, crucial verification mandate.’
In this regard, the Pakistani envoy reaffirmed its support for the resolution of all outstanding issues, including the Iran nuclear issue, through peaceful means, diplomatic engagement and sustained dialogue. ‘We are of the view that diplomacy and dialogue should be the guiding principles for achieving negotiated settlement of all contentious issues in accordance with the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the parties concerned.’
AS regards Pakistani mediation efforts, Ambassador Asim Ahmad expressed appreciation to both parties for reposing their trust in Pakistan, and engaging in dialogue to achieve a ceasefire and participating in the “Islamabad Talks” – the highest-level direct engagement between the United States and Iran for over four decades.
“Through sustained interaction at the leadership level with both Washington and Tehran, as well as with other partners in the region and beyond, notably Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye, Qatar and China and others, Islamabad has sought to encourage dialogue, facilitate the exchange of messages, and help create space and conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations,” he said.
“Our approach underscores Pakistan’s consistent commitment to regional stability and international peace, reflecting our preference for principled, dialogue-oriented diplomacy in addressing geopolitical challenges and managing complex disputes,” the Pakistani envoy said.
“So let us continue to tread the path of peace and diplomacy, for it has bright prospects of success, something that the international community has pinned its hopes on.”