UNITED NATIONS: Marking the fourth anniversary of the deadly Russia-Ukraine war, Pakistan on Tuesday called for making “full use of the ongoing diplomacy,” and engage constructively to make meaningful strides towards a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict, beginning with an early ceasefire.
“From the very first days of this conflict, Pakistan has stood on the side of dialogue and diplomacy,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council, which held a high-level meeting on the raging war in Ukraine.
“Our position is born of conviction that there is no military solution to this conflict — a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through sustained, structured, and meaningful dialogue,” he said, as other speakers too underscored that ongoing diplomatic efforts must first yield an immediate ceasefire, and then a lasting peace, to finally end the widespread suffering wrought by prolonged conflict.
The 15-member Council met in the wake of the General Assembly’s Emergency Special Session on the same topic, after months of intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure amidst freezing temperatures. While ongoing diplomatic efforts seek to end the war, 2025 was a particularly deadly year for civilians despite the Council’s adoption of resolution 2774 (2025) one year ago on the third anniversary of the war.
In his remarks, the Pakistani envoy said a negotiated settlement of the conflict would require a commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, a focus on finding a mutually acceptable solution that ensures the security interests of all sides, and guarantees lasting stability for the region and beyond. “It would also entail avoiding pointing fingers elsewhere.”
Highlighting the toll and the humanitarian catastrophe that the conflict had unleashed, Ambassador Asim Ahmad said, “The disproportionate impact on civilians and critical infrastructure remains a perturbing reality, jolting the very foundations of International Humanitarian Law.
“These actions, besides perpetuating the conflict, further deepen distrust, reduce space for meaningful dialogue, and undermine peace efforts,” he added.
“The imperative to end the agony of millions is not just a political objective, it is a profound moral responsibility,” the Pakistani envoy stressed.
Pakistan, he said, will continue to support all initiatives aimed at bridging the divide and promoting a pacific settlement.
“It is time to prove that diplomacy and dialogue are not a sign of weakness, but essential and powerful means in our collective quest for peace.”
Earlier, speaking on the same subject in the 193-member General Assembly, Pakistani delegate, Mohammad Kamran Taj, said that consequences of this deadly war had extended far beyond Ukraine, compromising economic stability, disrupting global supply chains and exacerbating food and energy insecurity across regions, particularly impacting the developing nations.
“It is deplorable that throughout the past four years, continued hostilities coupled with a lack of meaningful dialogue only accentuated the suffering of affected populations,”said Kamran Taj, a counsellor at the Pakistan Mission to the UN.
Noting renewed interest and effort in bringing this conflict to an end through dialogue, te Pakistani delegate commended the United States leadership in bringing the parties to the negotiating table.
“We welcome the recent exchange of prisoners between the two sides, after the latest rounds of talks,” he said, adding, “We encourage both sides to engage sincerely with these efforts, prioritize the saving of lives, channel all efforts towards a ceasefire and de-escalation, and find a mutually acceptable settlement that ensures comprehensive and lasting peace in the region, that is in line with UN Charter and its principles, and caters to the legitimate security interests of all sides.” –Agencies
