Monitoring Desk: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad briefed foreign media on the escalating regional situation in South Asia, focusing on India-Pakistan tensions and the Kashmir dispute.
Summary:
In a recent press briefing, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad provided a detailed overview of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, emphasizing concerns over India’s unilateral measures and military provocations that threaten regional peace and security. The speaker expressed Pakistan’s perspective on several issues, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, allegations of terrorism against Pakistan, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir(J&K).
The representative stressed that Pakistan does not desire escalation but is prepared to defend itself if provoked. Unsubstantiated allegations from India regarding Pakistan’s involvement in terrorist incidents were also highlighted, asserting that these claims were politically motivated attempts to detract from India’s failures in J&K. The speaker called for the international community to intervene, particularly the UN, to mediate and de-escalate the situation.
In discussing the Indus Waters Treaty, the representative asserted that India’s actions to restrict water flow would be considered an act of war. He also highlighted numerous human rights violations occurring in Kashmir, calling for global awareness and action to address these issues. The briefing concluded with an invitation for dialogue and constructive engagement between India and Pakistan for the sake of regional stability.
Highlights:
Tensions Rising: Escalating tensions between India and Pakistan pose a serious risk to regional peace following India’s unilateral actions and military provocations.
Allegations of Terrorism: Pakistan strongly rejects India’s accusations linking it to terrorism, labeling them as politically driven without credible evidence.
Indus Waters Treaty Threatened: Pakistan warns that any attempt by India to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty could be considered an act of war due to its implications for Pakistan’s water security.
Call for Dialogue: Pakistan emphasizes the need for diplomatic engagement and reconciliation, urging both sides to de-escalate tensions and promote stability.
Human Rights Violations: Wide-scale human rights abuses in Indian-administered J&K were cited, with calls for international accountability and investigation.
International Support Urged: The representative seeks intervention from the UN and other international actors to mediate and pursue peace negotiations.
Commitment to Peace: Pakistan reiterates its commitment to peaceful coexistence and cooperation with India, urging that mutual respect is essential for any resolution.
Strategic Analysis of Regional Stability: The growing tensions between India and Pakistan serve as a reminder of the delicate balance of power in South Asia. The representative’s assertion that the region, home to nearly two billion people, faces existential threats if this escalation is not managed underscores the urgent need for diplomatic channels and conflict resolution strategies. Both nations need to seek a sustained dialogue that can lead to peace, rather than military standoffs that offer no resolution.
Political Manipulation of Terrorism Accusations: The briefing sheds light on how accusations of terrorism can serve geopolitical agendas. By framing these incidents as threats from Pakistan, the Indian government may seek to consolidate support domestically while distracting from its own challenges in Kashmir. This pattern can further entrench hostilities and make diplomatic solutions more difficult.
Humanitarian and Environmental Concerns: The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty could result in severe consequences for Pakistan’s agriculture-dependent population, illustrating the interconnectedness of political decisions and humanitarian well-being. If India diverts water resources, it could exacerbate an already existing water crisis, heightening tensions on humanitarian, environmental, and political fronts.
Call for International Accountability: Highlighting human rights abuses in J&K provides an essential context for the conflict, emphasizing that the humanitarian dimension cannot be ignored alongside political disputes. The international community, including major powers and organizations, has a responsibility to address and act upon the persistent reports of abuses in the region.
The Need for Constructive Engagement: Pakistan’s openness to dialogue and its diplomatic overtures to engage with India suggest a desire for resolution. However, the effectiveness of these efforts largely depends on India’s willingness to reciprocate. This dynamic illustrates the complex nature of bilateral relations, where historical grievances complicate the path toward peace.
Nuclear Doctrine Concerns: The notion of nuclear escalation in the face of conflict remains a grave concern. Both Pakistan and India must consider their nuclear doctrines carefully, as the consequences of miscalculation could be catastrophic. Ongoing discussions surrounding non-proliferation and disarmament are critical not just for regional security but also for global peace efforts.
International Mediation Opportunities: With the UN Secretary-General’s willingness to mediate, Pakistan is eager for constructive international involvement. History shows that third-party mediation can often provide pathways to resolution, making this situation an opportunity for the global community to engage meaningfully in fostering dialogue and discovering amicable solutions to long-standing conflicts.
Above all, the situation requires serious and nuanced understanding from both local and international perspectives. As the briefing illustrated, without accountability, dialogue, and respect for human rights and international law, peace in South Asia remains a distant goal.
Transcript of the talk
Let me begin by thanking all of you for joining this briefing on a subject that I’m sure you would have been following closely in view of the recent developments in South Asia and the growing regional tensions, including the looming threat of military escalation. It was important to provide an update on this uh evolving situation and to also provide you with Pakistan’s perspective. The unjustified actions and unilateral measures announced by the Indian government on 23rd April, followed by belligerent public statements, have significantly heightened tensions and pose a serious threat to regional peace and security. In this politically motivated and highly provocative environment created by India’s irresponsible and destabilizing actions in the wake of the Pahlgam attack in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as we speak, there is reasonable intelligence indicating towards imminent threat of kinetic action by India against Pakistan in response to these developments.
We have briefed the UN secretary general, the presidents of the general assembly and the security council, the OIC group in New York, many other fellow members, members of the security council, and we have also shared our position and concerns with various other international partners across the globe. Colleagues, India’s conduct marked by a disregard for international law and regional stability is incendiary and dangerous, with the potential for far-reaching and disastrous consequences. Let me underline that Pakistan does not seek escalation. This has been made clear by the political leadership of Pakistan at all levels. At the same time, we are fully prepared to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. Should India resort to aggression, Pakistan will exercise its inherent and legitimate right to self-defense as enshrined in the UN charter. India’s pattern of military adventurism is well known. Predictably, within moments of the recent attack, India began leveling unsubstantiated and misleading allegations against Pakistan without presenting any shred of evidence and without any credible investigation. Even 10 days after the incident, no credible information about the perpetrators has been made public or shared with us. Pakistan categorically rejects any attempt to associate it with the 22nd April terrorist incident in Pahalgam in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Nothing justifies targeting innocent civilians. We are concerned about the loss of lives in the Pahalgam attack, and we have extended our condolences. As a victim of terrorism itself, no one can feel the pain of those impacted by this scourge like Pakistan. Immediately after the incident, Pakistan constructively engaged within the Security Council with our fellow council members to put out a press statement condemning the attack in the strongest possible terms. On the other hand, in response to India’s provocative and unilateral actions, Pakistan’s National Security Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister, convened on 24th April and was obliged to undertake certain proportionate countermeasures. Of grave and particular concern to us is India’s irresponsible decision to hold in abeyance the historic Indus Water Treaty of 1960, which is a landmark legally binding agreement brokered and guaranteed by the World Bank. The treaty guarantees Pakistan’s right to the three western rivers, which serve as a lifeline for over 240 million people of Pakistan. Holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance is unilateral and illegal. There are no such provisions in fact in the treaty. India’s unilateral and unlawful actions are bound to undermine regional peace and stability with catastrophic implications. Pakistan’s National Security Committee has made it categorically clear that any attempt to stop or divert the natural flow of water that rightfully belongs to Pakistan by the provisions of this treaty and the reservoir will be considered as an act of war. Such a move poses an existential threat to the people of Pakistan and will not be tolerated. In fact, if left unchecked by the international community, such actions risk setting a dangerous precedent that could undermine the legal rights of lower riparian states, potentially triggering new global conflicts over shared water resources. Unfortunately, India continues to weaponize terrorism and associate its unsubstantiated allegations as part of its disinformation strategy for political ends. In fact, this is now a familiar template aimed at diverting attention from India’s inability to suppress the inalienable right of the Kashmir people to self-determination, its security failures in the IOJK, as well as its decade’s decade-long state terrorism and oppression targeting the Kashmiris. Colleagues, it goes without saying that it needs to be highlighted that the root cause of conflict and instability in South Asia is the long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute that has remained unresolved for nearly eight decades. Durable peace in our view will remain elusive until there is a just and lasting settlement to this core issue, following the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. We are deeply concerned by reports of widespread human rights violations in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including in the wake of this incident, and that includes arbitrary detentions, home demolitions, and collective punishment that is being imposed on the innocent Kashmiri people. Pakistan desires good neighborly, peaceful, and cooperative relations with all its neighbors, including India. We advocate for a relationship grounded in mutual respect, sovereign equality, peaceful coexistence, and the peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes. But this aspiration must be reciprocated. It cannot be a one-sided affair. In conclusion, the situation unfolding in the region poses a serious threat to international peace and security. Pakistan has urged immediate de-escalation. We believe escalatory rhetoric and unilateral actions are counterproductive. Pakistan has acted with maturity and responsibility. Regional peace and security is a fundamental pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy, and Pakistan is deeply committed to this objective. We appreciate the efforts that have been undertaken by the UN Secretary General and many of our friends, common friends of India and Pakistan, calling for cooperation, dialogue, and de-escalation. We believe these efforts and outreach should continue because the situation remains very tense and these efforts should intense should in fact, be intensified to prevent escalation and conflict. escalation in South Asia, that’s a region which is home to close to two billion people, favors none. It is time for sanity to prevail and to allow dialogue and diplomacy to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
