In the face of escalating tensions in the Middle East and ongoing diplomatic efforts related to the US-Iran conflict, Pakistan emphasized at the United Nations on Monday that mediation should be the foremost strategy for preventing conflicts, rather than a reactive measure after crises emerge. This stance was presented by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, during the General Debate focused on enhancing mediation’s role in peaceful dispute resolution, conflict prevention, and management.
Ambassador Ahmad underscored that peaceful dispute resolution remains a fundamental pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy and a binding commitment under the UN Charter. He remarked that the true measure of dedication to peace lies not in condemning conflicts post-outbreak but in actively preventing them beforehand.
Highlighting mediation as a vital tool for peace, he described it as the essential link bridging confrontation and harmony. Mediation, he explained, allows diplomacy to fulfill its noble mission by replacing force with reason, silence with dialogue, and human suffering with justice. He warned that conflicts often arise when diplomatic efforts are delayed, dialogue is avoided, and disputes are left unresolved, stressing that the UN’s primary duty is to prevent conflicts before they devastate lives, regions, and future generations.
Ambassador Ahmad also referenced UN Security Council Resolution 2788, which Pakistan introduced and was unanimously adopted in July 2025. The resolution reaffirmed the importance of Chapter VI of the UN Charter, promoted the effective use of mediation and good offices, and emphasized the roles of the United Nations and regional organizations in peacefully settling disputes.
He noted that this philosophy has consistently guided Pakistan’s diplomatic approach, including during the recent Middle East crisis. As a close neighbor of Iran, a trusted partner of Gulf countries, and a nation with enduring friendly ties to the United States, Pakistan remains committed to facilitating lasting solutions for regional and global peace and stability.
Outlining Pakistan’s proposals to bolster mediation efforts, the ambassador advocated for initiating mediation early through improved early warning systems, preventive diplomacy, the Secretary-General’s good offices, and proactive application of Chapter VI mechanisms. He further stressed the importance of grounding mediation in international law and the UN Charter, addressing the root causes of conflicts, enhancing the UN’s mediation framework with reliable funding and stronger partnerships, and encouraging parties to regard mediation as a duty toward their citizens and international peace.
Pakistan pledges to continue championing mediation as central to collective efforts aimed at peaceful dispute resolution, conflict prevention, and management.
Separately, during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Lebanon’s situation, Ambassador Ahmad highlighted that approximately 2,000 square kilometers of Lebanese territory—nearly 20% of the country—is under what he termed illegal Israeli occupation. He warned that evacuation orders are inflicting severe suffering on civilians.
Addressing the council, he remarked that the tactics employed appear to follow a familiar pattern seen elsewhere: indiscriminate killings, forced displacement, and occupation. Since March of this year, over 3,400 people, including women and children, have lost their lives, with more than 10,000 injured and over one million displaced.
The envoy also cited the UN humanitarian coordinator’s observations, noting that civilians across Lebanon are enduring an alarming escalation of violence, displacement, and human loss.
