Pakistan has called for Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese and Syrian territories, including the Golan Heights, and emphasized the need for enhanced UN peacekeeping efforts to ensure the enforcement of international agreements aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
In a speech delivered to the UN Security Council (UNSC), Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, voiced deep concerns about the growing dangers faced by UN peacekeepers, particularly those from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). This comes after a briefing by two senior UN peacekeeping officials on the current situation in Lebanon, the occupied Syrian Golan, and the challenges confronting peacekeepers in these regions.
Ambassador Akram strongly condemned Israel’s continued aggression in Syrian territories and the illegal incursions of Israeli military forces into areas protected under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement. He emphasized that this agreement remains binding and must be fully upheld. According to Akram, no military presence other than that of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) should be allowed in these zones, and any actions that undermine this agreement are unacceptable.
Highlighting the vital role of UNIFIL in ensuring stability in Southern Lebanon, Akram welcomed the November 2024 cessation of hostilities agreement between Lebanon and Israel. However, he expressed concern over Israeli violations of the agreement, including airspace incursions, airstrikes, and restrictions on the movement of UNIFIL peacekeepers. He called for Israel to respect the 60-day timeline outlined in the agreement and complete its withdrawal from Southern Lebanon.
Akram stressed the importance of ensuring the full freedom of movement for UNIFIL and the full deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces to maintain security and stability in the region. He urged the Security Council to provide continued support for both UNDOF and UNIFIL, ensuring they are adequately resourced and equipped with modern technologies to safeguard peacekeepers’ safety and enhance their operational efficiency. Furthermore, Akram called for accountability for those responsible for attacking UN peacekeepers.
The ambassador also expressed hope that the ceasefire in Gaza would mark the first step toward a comprehensive solution, including the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.
