Pakistan joins Russia and China’s call for ceasefire as UNSC meets over US strikes on Iran

New York (Web Desk): Pakistan, through its Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has called for immediate de-escalation in the Middle East, following a sharp rise in tensions after recent military actions targeting Iranian nuclear facilities.

Speaking at a special meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Ambassador Ahmad announced that Pakistan has co-sponsored a draft resolution with Russia and China, urging an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the region.

The resolution comes in response to a series of US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which themselves followed earlier attacks by Israel on the same facilities.

Ambassador Ahmad condemned the US actions in strong terms, describing them as a clear breach of international law and a grave threat to both regional and global security.

He highlighted that the targeted nuclear sites are under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and emphasized that strikes on such facilities represent a serious violation of international norms.

The joint resolution put forward by Pakistan, Russia, and China calls on all involved parties to avoid any further escalation. It stresses the need for the immediate protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and advocates for a diplomatic approach to the Iranian nuclear issue that respects the concerns of all stakeholders.

Ambassador Iftikhar Ahmad voiced Pakistan’s hope that the Security Council would unite behind the resolution and offer a firm, collective response to prevent the crisis from deepening.

In his address, the ambassador also placed the current crisis in the broader context of Middle Eastern instability.

He pointed to the region’s long-standing challenges, including Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territories and the persistent denial of Palestinian self-determination.

Stressing that the region is already overburdened by conflict, the Pakistani envoy warned that it "cannot absorb another crisis."

He called on the international community to act swiftly to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control and reiterated Pakistan’s readiness to engage constructively with all Council members in pursuit of peace.