NEW YORK / ISLAMABAD – In a compelling display of principled diplomacy, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, presided over the United Nations Security Council’s Quarterly Open Debate on the “Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question.” The debate, elevated to the ministerial level under Pakistan’s presidency of the Council, reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to justice, peace, and multilateralism.
Delivering Pakistan’s national statement, Senator Ishaq Dar issued a strong condemnation of the ongoing violations of international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He denounced the systematic targeting of hospitals, schools, UN facilities, humanitarian convoys, and refugee camps as deliberate acts of collective punishment, in blatant defiance of international law, UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, and binding provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Calling the Palestine issue a “litmus test for the credibility of the United Nations”, the Deputy Prime Minister urged the Security Council to rise to the occasion and take urgent, concrete action. He outlined Pakistan’s principled position, calling for:
- An immediate and unconditional ceasefire
- Unimpeded humanitarian aid access
- An end to occupation and forced displacement
- Renewed and sustained support to UNRWA
- Implementation of the Arab League and OIC-backed reconstruction plan for Gaza
- Revival of the two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of Palestine
“The time has come to give the Palestinian people what they have been denied for far too long: justice, freedom, dignity, and a state of their own,” Senator Dar asserted. “This is the only path toward durable peace and long-term stability in the Middle East.”
The Foreign Minister also emphasized that a sustainable peace in the region requires addressing all interrelated crises, including those in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran, through peaceful dialogue and effective multilateralism.
Pakistan’s presidency of the Security Council during this critical time has been widely acknowledged as a significant contribution to restoring the focus on international law, human rights, and equitable peace in the Middle East. The country continues to stand in firm solidarity with the people of Palestine and all oppressed communities seeking dignity and justice under the UN Charter.
BY: Nadeem Faisal
