Pakistan has voted in favour of a US-tabled UN Security Council resolution endorsing President Donald Trump’s “Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza conflict.”
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stressing that Islamabad’s “primary objective” is “to stop the bloodshed, to save the lives of innocent Palestinians including women and children, to maintain the ceasefire, to ensure much needed large-scale humanitarian relief, and to secure the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.”
The ambassador further said “The Question of Palestine is at the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict,” and that Pakistan’s position has “always been in line with and in support of Palestine and the Arab countries.”
He underlined that the decision was guided by the stance of Palestine, the Arab Group and the “Group of eight Arab-Islamic countries.”
The countries are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Türkiye and Pakistan which backed what he called “President Trump’s commendable initiative to bring the war in Gaza to an end.”
Ambassador Iftikhar noted that the plan “got the ceasefire on ground” and “subscribed to the need for humanitarian assistance, reconstruction, provision of a secure and stable environment, and the hope for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
However, he expressed concern that “a clear political path to Palestinian self-determination and statehood,” a “central role of the Palestinian Authority,” and “clarifications about the Board of Peace (BoP) and the mandate of the International Stabilization Force (ISF)” were not fully reflected.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s long-standing policy, he said any peace process must lead to “a sovereign, independent and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
He stressed, “This resolution shall not alter or diminish” existing UN resolutions and that “the right to self-determination… cannot be subjected to any conditions.”
He demanded that “Israeli troops must withdraw from Gaza,” insisted there must be “no annexation and no forced displacement under any circumstances.”
In a powerful closing he declared: “At this solemn moment in history, Pakistan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Palestine. Their suffering is our anguish; their resilience is our pride; their aspirations our cause.”
He vowed that Pakistan’s solidarity would remain “unwavering” and its voice “unshakeable” until Palestinians realise their right to self-determination.
