Latest news with #AsimIftikhar
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan backs diplomacy on Iran
Pakistan reaffirmed its support for resolving Iran nuclear issue through peaceful means when the UN Security Council on Tuesday discussed the latest developments related to the implementation of its 2015 resolution endorsing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which limits the Iranian atomic programme. "Diplomatic engagement and the resumption of dialogue are the best means to resolve all outstanding issues," Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the 15-member Council on Tuesday. "Diplomacy has delivered previously and with the necessary political will, it can certainly deliver again," he said, referring to JCPOA, which was signed in 2015 after extensive negotiations between Iran and several world powers, including the United States. The US, however, withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under the Trump administration, and the deal is now considered "essentially defunct". Tuesday's Security Council session followed a brokered ceasefire that brought a pause to recent hostilities — air strikes by Israel and the United States on Iranian nuclear sites, and Tehran's subsequent missile attacks on a United States base in Qatar. In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said the IAEA, the UN agency responsible for verifying compliance with respective nuclear safeguards obligations of member states, must be enabled to fulfil this statutory function. "We believe that verification activities by the IAEA should continue unimpeded," he added. The Security Council, the Pakistani envoy said, should allow sufficient time to continuing efforts between the IAEA and Iran as well as other parties to resolve outstanding issues. Recent developments, he said, have yet again manifested the grave dangers that present themselves when there are violations of the UN Charter and international law. "The cost of seeking to resolve issues through military means is more than evident," he said, adding, "The region, and indeed the whole world, cannot be hostage to such adventures, dangerous precedents and spiraling escalations." With regards to recent developments, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar emphasized: Condemnation of violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states and, of the threat or use of force to settle disputes; Rejection of attacks on IAEA-safeguarded nuclear facilities; Sustained cessation of hostilities and a permanent ceasefire to allow resumption of dialogue and verification activities by the IAEA, and, Renew diplomatic engagement to seriously and faithfully address the outstanding issues in a cooperative manner. In conclusion, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar informed the Council that together with Russia and China, Pakistan has proposed a draft Council resolution in search of a peaceful solution to the concerns surrounding Iran's nuclear programme.
Russia Today
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
UN urges India and Pakistan to exercise ‘maximum restraint'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on India and Pakistan to avoid a 'military confrontation' that could spin out of control. His remarks on Monday came ahead of a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council that discussed the escalating situation in South Asia. The meeting was held at Pakistan's request. 'Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink,' Guterres told the media outside the council chambers at the UN headquarters in New York. The UNSC did not release a statement after the meeting, which lasted for around 90 minutes. Indian news agency ANI reported, citing sources, that UNSC members posed 'tough questions' to Pakistan regarding the April terror attack in Kashmir that claimed 26 lives. 'The members refused to accept the 'false flag' narrative promoted by the Pakistani side and asked whether Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed terror organisation with deep ties to Pakistan, was likely to be involved in the terror attack,' ANI wrote. Islamabad's UN ambassador, Asim Iftikhar, told the media that his country had raised an 'effective voice against Indian actions' in the Security Council, according to Pakistani newspaper the Express Tribune. Iftikhar also expressed reservations over India's move to suspend the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty that regulated sharing of water between the two nations, calling it a violation of international law. Ahmad denounced the Kashmir attack and denied Pakistan's involvement. He further expressed his government's willingness to fully cooperate with a transparent, independent, and international investigation, the paper added. VIDEO | Pahalgam terror attack: United Nations General Secretary António Guterres (@antonioguterres) says, "Tensions between India and Pakistan are at the highest in years. I deeply respect and I am profoundly grateful to the government and people of both countries and their… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2025 India and Pakistan have exchanged fire for 12 days following the attack. The Indian Army said that Pakistan continued to violate a February 2021 ceasefire agreement by resorting to unprovoked small-arms fire from posts across the Line of Control, which is the de-facto border between the two countries in Kashmir.
News18
06-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Misusing UN Platform, Silent On Upping Nuclear Rhetoric: Govt Sources
Last Updated: Pakistan's Permanent Representative at UN was also given a chance to make a 9-minute-long monologue against India even as UNSC did not come out with any statement on the meeting Pakistan is misusing the United Nations (UN) platform by virtue of being a non-permanent member of the Security Council at present and ahead of it assuming the chair of the Security Council for the month of July. This is what top government sources in India are saying, taking umbrage at Pakistan seeking, and getting, a closed-door meeting at the UN to discuss the India-Pakistan tensions in the wake of the Pahalgam tragedy. Pakistan's Permanent Representative at UN, Asim Iftikhar, was also given a chance to make a 9-minute-long monologue against India even as the UNSC did not come out with any statement on the meeting. 'This is unfortunate and ironic as it is Pakistan which is speaking of nuclear options after orchestrating the Pahalgam terror strike. The Pakistani representative in fact walked without answering the sole question asked on why Pakistani top leaders were ratcheting up the nuclear rhetoric and speaking about using full spectrum of power," a government source told CNN-News18. Pakistan went on to raise the Kashmir issue in its monologue at the UN, calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir and claimed the unresolved issue of Kashmir was the root cause of the India-Pakistan tensions. It also accused India of a provocative stance, putting on hold the Indus Waters Treaty, and again asked for an impartial investigation into the 'Pahalgam incident", while condemning it. However, inside the closed-door meeting, Pakistan was asked by other countries whether LeT was likely to be involved in the Pahalgam attack, and a recognition of the need for accountability, sources say. Some members specifically brought up targeting of tourists based on their religious faith. In fact, many members expressed concern that Pakistan's missile tests and nuclear rhetoric were escalatory factors, sources say. India has spoken to all members of the UNSC over the last one week, pressing its case against Pakistan. Guterres pointed out that the tensions between India and Pakistan are 'highest" in recent years. 'It pains me to see India-Pakistan relations reaching a boiling point," he said. He added: 'I deeply respect and am profoundly grateful to the governments and people of both countries and their significant contributions to the work of the United Nations, not least UN peacekeeping. And so it pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point." He also said that both nations should pull back from the 'brink" and said the UN stands to support initiatives that promote de-escalation. 'Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution. And I offer my good offices to both governments in the service of peace. The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace," he further added. First Published: May 06, 2025, 09:55 IST
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
UNSC briefed on Pak-India standoff
Pakistan on Monday apprised the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) of the prevailing tensions in South Asia after the killing of 26 people in the Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) tourist resort of Pahalgam. The UNSC went into an emergency in-camera session on Pakistan's request and received a briefing from Pakistan's Permanent Representative Ambassador Asim Iftikhar. The meeting was attended by all 15 members, including the five-permanent veto-wielding powers. "Pakistan is grateful to the members of the UNSC for their attention and engagement," Ambassador Iftikhar told reporters, while briefing the media. He described the Kashmir issue as a longstanding dispute between Pakistan and India, saying that it has been lingering since the last 70 years. He expressed strong reservations over India's recent unilateral actions and said that Pakistan had raised an effective voice against Indian actions in the Security Council. "Pakistan is always ready to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. Ambassador Iftikhar expressed reservations over India's unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it a violation of the international law. He condemned atrocities of Indian forces in IIOJK and said that the oppression and persecution of unarmed and innocent Kashmiris continued unabated. About the Pahalgam attack, the Pakistani delegate condemned the incident and made it clear that Pakistan had nothing to do with it. "Pakistan is ready to fully cooperate in a transparent, independent and international investigation into the incident," he added. He stressed that sustainable peace in South Asia was not possible without the resolution of the Kashmir issue and urged the solution to this issue should be in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. "The Kashmir dispute cannot be resolved without the participation of the Kashmiri people." The Pakistani delegate said that India's actions posed serious threats to peace and security of the region, and stressed that talks were the only way to peace. "Pakistan is always ready for talks based on the principles of mutual respect, dignity and sovereignty.
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
UN Security Council convenes over rising Pakistan-India tensions
Listen to article The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has convened to address the growing tensions between Pakistan and India in the aftermath of a deadly attack in Indian Ilegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The April 22 assault in Pahalgam, which left 26 people dead, has become one of the deadliest incidents in the region in over two decades. India, without presenting any evidence, has implied that the attackers had 'cross-border linkages,' a claim Pakistan has strongly denied. Islamabad has instead called for a neutral and transparent investigation into the incident. In response to the escalating standoff, Pakistan moved swiftly to activate diplomatic channels. Acting on directives from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar called for an emergency UNSC meeting. The session began at 3 pm local time at the UN headquarters in New York. According to a statement by the Foreign Office earlier today, Pakistan intends to brief the Security Council on India's 'aggressive actions, repeated provocations and inflammatory rhetoric,' which it says threaten regional and global peace. The FO also highlighted India's recent move to unilaterally suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a violation of international obligations. Pakistan has urged the UNSC to fulfill its mandate to maintain international peace and security by addressing these developments through appropriate measures. The meeting comes amid sustained international efforts to prevent further deterioration between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
