UNITED NATIONS, Apr 03 (APP): Pakistan has called for enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States to address ongoing crises in the Middle East, emphasizing the urgent need to resolve long-standing disputes arising from foreign occupation.Speaking at the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stressed that a key priority for Pakistan and the Arab League is ensuring the right to self-determination and ending prolonged conflicts in the region.He expressed hope that international efforts would lead to a time-bound political process, based on relevant UN resolutions, resulting in the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.The envoy highlighted the Arab League’s central role in addressing the Palestinian issue, which remains at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
He reiterated Pakistan’s position that the Palestinian people continue to face occupation and dispossession, calling on Israel to withdraw from all occupied Arab territories, including areas in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon.Ambassador Ahmad also underscored the importance of representation from Arab countries and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in global decision-making forums.Amid rising regional tensions, particularly the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, Pakistan called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue.
He noted that Gulf countries are facing direct security challenges while also dealing with disruptions to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.Pakistan, he added, is actively working with international partners to promote peace and stability, referencing UN Security Council Resolution 2788 as a key framework for preventive diplomacy and peaceful dispute resolution.Reaffirming the significance of the Arab League, Ambassador Ahmad described it as one of the most prominent regional organizations contributing to peace in the Arab world, stressing that stronger UN–Arab League collaboration is “indispensable.”Meanwhile, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari emphasized the need to sustain the Gaza ceasefire and advance broader peace efforts across the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Libya, Sudan, and Somalia.In his remarks, Ahmed Aboul Gheit highlighted that cooperation between the Arab League and the Security Council is a strategic necessity. He condemned attacks affecting Gulf states and criticized disruptions to international shipping routes, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.
He also denounced Israel’s settlement expansion in the West Bank and warned of escalating risks due to ongoing tensions in Lebanon.The meeting reaffirmed the importance of strengthened partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations to ensure lasting peace and security in the Middle East and beyond.
