Pakistan Welcomes New Peace Initiative
At the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan expressed support for the US peace plan aimed at resolving the crisis in Gaza and the wider Middle East. The initiative, announced by President Donald Trump in collaboration with eight OIC and Arab states, was described as a step toward consensus and stability.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to playing a constructive role in the consultative process. He stressed that the primary goal is to ease Palestinian suffering and establish a just, lasting peace consistent with UN resolutions.
Key Elements of the Peace Proposal
President Trump recently announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to the plan. It includes a ceasefire, release of hostages, prisoner exchanges, and a staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The plan also calls for Hamas disarmament and the establishment of a transitional government under international supervision.
Although progress has been made, the success of the proposal depends on Hamas’s acceptance of the terms. Trump said both sides are “beyond very close” to reaching a deal, expressing hope that all parties will cooperate.
Pakistan Highlights Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
During the UNSC briefing, Ambassador Ahmad reminded members that Gaza has faced relentless violence for more than two years. He quoted Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who called the plight of Palestinians “one of the most heart-wrenching tragedies of our times.”
The envoy reported that over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children. He added that Gaza is not only under airstrikes but also enduring starvation. Schools, hospitals, and homes lie in ruins, and the people face near-total displacement.
He warned that expanded military operations in Gaza City threaten the forced displacement of nearly a million residents with no safe refuge.
Warning Against Settlement Expansion
Ambassador Ahmad also raised alarm over Israel’s E-1 settlement plan, calling it a direct attack on the two-state solution. He said the plan aims to cut off East Jerusalem from Palestinian areas and destroy territorial contiguity in the West Bank.
He underscored that such settlements violate international law and Security Council Resolution 2334, which declared them illegal. Continued defiance, he cautioned, undermines the credibility of the Council and weakens global confidence in its role.
Pakistan’s Calls to the International Community
Pakistan presented a list of urgent demands to the Security Council. These include:
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An immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
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Lifting of the blockade and unimpeded humanitarian aid.
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Release of hostages and prisoners.
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An end to forced displacement and settlement activity.
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Practical measures to implement Resolution 2334.
The ambassador also urged the launch of a credible political process leading to a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Standing Firm with Palestine
Ambassador Ahmad concluded by saying Pakistan will continue to stand with the people of Palestine and collaborate with partners to ensure peace. He noted that the cause of peace and the credibility of the Security Council depend on decisive action.
“The people of Palestine cannot wait,” he said, emphasizing that global responsibility lies in achieving a just and lasting resolution for the region.
