Amid rising tensions in the Middle East and continuing diplomatic efforts surrounding the US-Iran conflict, Pakistan told the United Nations on Monday that mediation must become the guiding principle of conflict prevention rather than a tool used only after crises erupt.
This message was conveyed by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, during the UN General Debate on strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution. “Peaceful settlement of disputes remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy and a solemn obligation under the UN Charter,” he said, adding, “The true test of our commitment to peace is not how we condemn conflicts after they break out, but how proactively we prevent them in the first place.”
Describing mediation as an essential instrument for peace, he said: “Mediation is the bridge between confrontation and peace. It enables diplomacy to further its noble purpose to replace force with reason, silence with dialogue, and human suffering with justice.”
