Pakistan has called for an immediate end to military provocations, unlawful attacks and escalating tensions in the Gulf region, stressing that dialogue, diplomacy and negotiated solutions must remain the guiding principles for achieving lasting peace and stability.
Speaking at a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Gulf, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Syed Haider Shah, underscored the serious implications of escalating regional tensions, particularly for maritime security, international trade and global energy supplies.
Ambassador Haider Shah warned that heightened tensions and threats to critical maritime navigation routes were a matter of serious concern, emphasizing that the region’s strategic waterways sustain international commerce and facilitate the transportation of essential energy supplies and other commodities. Any disruption to these vital routes, he noted, carries far-reaching consequences for regional and global economic stability.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding fraternal ties with the Gulf countries, the ambassador stressed that their security, sovereignty and prosperity were of immense importance to Pakistan. He highlighted the deep-rooted bonds of faith, shared history and people-to-people connections that unite Pakistan with the brotherly nations of the Gulf.
Presenting Pakistan’s position on the evolving regional situation, Ambassador Haider Shah emphasized five fundamental principles:
1. Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity
The sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of all regional states must be respected and upheld. No country should be subjected to unlawful aggression or actions that threaten its national security and territorial integrity.
2. Protection of Civilian Infrastructure
Attacks against civilian objects, including airports, energy installations and other critical civilian infrastructure, are unacceptable. Pakistan condemned the Houthi militia’s attacks and threats against Saudi Arabia, particularly those targeting civilian infrastructure and vessels engaged in lawful trade with the Kingdom.
3. Safeguarding Maritime Security and International Trade
Maritime security is a shared international responsibility. Disruptions to commercial shipping and attacks on merchant vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz have demonstrated the serious consequences of maritime insecurity for international commerce, energy supplies and the global economy.
4. Addressing the Root Causes of Regional Conflicts
A durable and sustainable peace cannot be achieved without addressing the underlying causes and drivers of conflict and instability. Efforts must focus on resolving disputes through peaceful means rather than allowing confrontation and military escalation to deepen existing crises.
5. Dialogue and Diplomacy as the Only Sustainable Way Forward
Pakistan firmly believes that dialogue and diplomacy must guide the way forward. Highlighting Pakistan’s own diplomatic efforts, Ambassador Haider Shah reiterated that lasting regional stability requires respect for sovereignty, protection of civilians and mutually agreed negotiated solutions.
Calling upon the UN Security Council to demonstrate unity and responsibility, Ambassador Haider Shah urged the international community to demand an immediate cessation of all military provocations and unlawful attacks, ensure the protection of civilians and commercial shipping, and intensify efforts towards peaceful conflict resolution.
He further stressed that all attacks must stop, communication channels must remain open, and regional diplomatic initiatives, alongside the good offices of the UN Secretary-General, must receive sustained international support.
Concluding his remarks, the ambassador reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working closely with its brotherly Gulf countries, friendly nations and international partners to promote de-escalation, safeguard maritime security and advance lasting peace and stability across the region and beyond.
Pakistan’s message at the United Nations was unequivocal: military escalation offers no sustainable solution to regional conflicts. Respect for sovereignty, protection of civilians and meaningful diplomacy remain indispensable to securing peace, stability and prosperity for the entire region.
