United Nations: Pakistan has reaffirmed its strong support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, stressing that Palestinian statehood remains the central objective of international efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.
Addressing a United Nations Security Council open debate on the Palestinian question on Wednesday, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the realization of Palestinian statehood through a credible and time-bound political process is essential for regional stability.
He emphasized that the international community’s shared goal is the creation of “an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
Ambassador Ahmad said the unresolved Palestinian issue lies at the heart of long-standing instability in the Middle East, citing decades of Israeli occupation marked by dispossession, repression, and the denial of Palestinians’ inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination.
Referring to the ongoing situation in Gaza, he noted that over the past two years the crisis has escalated to an unprecedented scale, resulting in widespread civilian casualties, mass displacement, near-total destruction of infrastructure, and severe humanitarian deprivation. He warned that humanitarian needs continue to grow rapidly.
The Pakistani envoy welcomed renewed diplomatic engagement, including the High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and President Donald Trump’s Peace Plan, endorsed by Security Council resolution 2803.
He said the second phase of the plan should help consolidate the ceasefire, ensure a permanent cessation of hostilities, support transitional arrangements, and enable recovery and reconstruction in Gaza. He also underscored the importance of providing humanitarian assistance at scale and preparing the ground for a credible political process leading to Palestinian self-determination.
Pakistan, along with other Arab and Islamic countries in the Group of Eight, supports the proposed Board of Peace under resolution 2803, which is intended to act as a transitional mechanism to consolidate a permanent ceasefire, facilitate reconstruction in Gaza, and advance a just and lasting peace.
Islamabad has further expressed its willingness to participate in the proposed Gaza Stabilisation Force, a US-led multinational initiative aimed at stabilizing the territory following a ceasefire.
At the same time, Ambassador Ahmad voiced deep concern over continued tensions on the ground, warning that ceasefire violations persist, civilian lives remain at risk, and increasing pressure on humanitarian organizations is obstructing aid delivery and protection efforts.
He strongly condemned Israeli actions against United Nations facilities, including the recent demolition of a UN compound in Sheikh Jarrah, stating that such actions undermine stabilization efforts and threaten the limited progress achieved so far. He stressed that the operations of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) remain essential and must be safeguarded.
Outlining Pakistan’s priorities, the ambassador called for full respect for the ceasefire, immediate recovery and reconstruction in Gaza, and the prevention of annexation, forced displacement, or any alteration of the territorial unity of Palestinian territories.
He also urged an immediate end to illegal settlement activities, settler violence, and attempts to change the demographic, legal, or historical character of the occupied territories, including holy sites, emphasizing that accountability is indispensable for lasting peace.
Pakistan has long supported Palestinian self-determination and statehood, consistently advocating a two-state solution in line with UN resolutions and international law.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Ahmad reaffirmed that Pakistan’s solidarity with the Palestinian people “remains firm and unwavering,” and urged the Security Council to ensure that diplomatic efforts deliver concrete and measurable results for the betterment of Palestinians.
