Pakistan’s UN envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad warned on Tuesday that the Middle East remained “extremely volatile,” citing Gaza’s fragile ceasefire, rising West Bank settler violence and economic risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing a UN Security Council debate, Ahmad urged restraint, diplomacy and strict adherence to international law, the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions to prevent further regional escalation.
Ahmad said Palestine remained central to regional stability and argued that developments there continue to shape the wider regional security environment. He warned that the Gaza ceasefire had brought some relief but remained fragile, as Israeli strikes had reportedly killed more than 800 Palestinians since the truce was announced.
He urged all parties to fully respect and strengthen the ceasefire to prevent further deterioration. He also called for sustained, unhindered, and significantly expanded humanitarian assistance for Gaza, stressing that civilians urgently need reliable access to food, medicine, shelter, and other essential supplies.
Ahmad said the occupied West Bank was facing a rapidly deteriorating situation. He cited escalating settler violence, continued expansion of illegal settlements and legislative measures that he described as grave violations of international law. The ambassador said broader regional tensions were threatening international peace, security and global economic stability. He said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz was adversely affecting countries worldwide, including Pakistan.
Read: Pakistan Maritime Security Warning Raised at UN
Ahmad said Pakistan remained engaged in diplomatic pathways and supported the peaceful resolution of regional crises. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of states in the region.
He said the unresolved question of Palestine remained the root cause of instability in the Middle East and called the establishment of a Palestinian state the only path to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
