At UN, Pakistan champions diplomatic path to Mideast peace, insisting end of Palestinian lands' occupation

Amid a fragile Gaza ceasefire and worsening humanitarian crisis, Pakistan told the UN Security Council that it stands for universal respect for international law and pacific settlement of disputes and remains actively engaged in advancing diplomatic pathways towards peace and stability in the Middle East

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Apr, 2026) Amid a fragile Gaza ceasefire and worsening humanitarian crisis, Pakistan told the UN Security Council that it stands for universal respect for international law and pacific settlement of disputes and remains actively engaged in advancing diplomatic pathways towards peace and stability in the Middle East.

"The root cause of instability in the Middle East remains the unresolved question of Palestine and the continued Israeli occupation of the Arab lands," Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said in a debate on the situation in the Middle East.

“Not the expansionist ambitions; not the illegal wars, it is the vacation of occupation, for realization of a Palestinian state, the two-State solution, that is the only viable framework for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace”, he added.

Opening the debate, UN Assistant Secretary-General in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. Khaled Khiari warned of increasingly dire conditions in Gaza and the West Bank,

“The tensions and hostilities that have upended the Middle East over the past weeks have shifted attention from the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Away from the spotlight, the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is steadily worsening," Khiari said, adding that the population in Gaza faces ongoing and deadly Israeli strikes and dire humanitarian conditions.

In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad, the Pakistani envoy, said more than 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire's announcement, underscoring both the scale of the crisis and the sensitivity of the situation. "It is essential to fully respect and consolidate the ceasefire, and ensure sustained, unhindered and scaled up humanitarian assistance.

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The Pakistani envoy said the current stalemate, particularly regarding Phase II of the Gaza Peace Plan aimed at the reconstruction of the war-devastated enclave, must be overcome at the earliest. "Any delay risks eroding the hard-won momentum and deepening human suffering," he said.

"The Gaza Peace Plan, as endorsed in Security Council resolution 2803, must be implemented in fully in letter and spirit."

Ambassador Asim Ahmad also sounded alarm over the escalating settler violence in the West Bank, continued expansion of illegal settlements and legislative measures aimed at land confiscation are grave violations of international law that seek to alter the demographic and legal character of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

Broader regional tension continues to pose serious risks to international peace and security, as well as to global economic stability, he said, pointing out the situation in the Strait of Hormuz is adversely impacting countries around the world.

"At this critical juncture, restraint, dialogue and diplomacy must prevail," the Pakistani envoy said.

Pakistan, he added, remains actively engaged in advancing such diplomatic pathways and advocating for a peaceful resolution of this crisis. The recent talks hosted in Islamabad between the U.S. and Iran stand as a testament to this commitment. Pakistan will continue to support and facilitate efforts aimed at fostering dialogue and stability across the region.

“The recent talks hosted in Islamabad between the U.S. and Iran stands as a testament to this commitment,” he said.

"Pakistan will continue to support that objective, while reaffirming its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their just cause."