NEW YORK Pakistan, which abstained from voting in the UN General Assembly on a resolution urging Moscow to withdraw its troops from the country exactly one year after its invasion, emphasized the necessity of restarting talks between Russia and Ukraine for a peaceful resolution to the raging conflict. The resolution, sponsored by 75 nations, received 141 yes votes, more than the two-thirds majority required to pass it. Seven members voted against the resolution: Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria. A total of 32 members, including Pakistan, China, India, Iran, and South Africa, chose not to vote.
Speaking in explanation of his vote, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram said he had abstained on the resolution, which was drafted by Ukraine, despite efforts by the co-sponsors to moderate its tone, as some provisions were still inconsistent with Islamabad’s principled position. On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had telephoned his Pakistani counterpart, Dr. Arif Alvi, to seek Pakistan’s support.
Pakistan, he said, fully supports the resolution’s call for respect for the principle of sovereignty, sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States and non-acquisition of territory by the threat or use of force. States cannot be torn apart by the use of force, the Pakistani envoy said.
But, Ambassador Akram said, he regrets that these principles have not been universally applied and respected for instance in the situation of foreign occupation and the ongoing attempt at the illegal and forcible annexation of Jammu and Kashmir.
His reference to the situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir drew a response from a representative of India, but which was effectively countered by a Pakistani diplomat.
In his remarks, Ambassador Akram said Pakistan also endorses the resolution’s call on member states and international organizations to redouble their support for diplomatic efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
“While the hostilities continue, there is an ever-present danger of a further military and geographical escalation of the war. There is thus an imminent threat to global peace and security.” the Pakistani envoy said, noting that while agreeing with and endorsing the principles and general provisions contained in the draft resolution, some provisions were not consistent with Pakistan’s principled position.
“As a country that has seen and suffered the consequences of prolonged conflict in our neighbourhood, we attach the highest priority to the immediate cessation of hostilities and the resumption of dialogue to achieve a just and durable solution – through direct or indirect negotiations, mediation or other peaceful means.
“In this regard, we see an important role of the UN and the Secretary-General, inter alia under Chapter VI and VIII of the UN Charter provisions (pacific settlement of disputes), for efforts aimed at de-escalation, renewed negotiations and sustained dialogue for a peaceful diplomatic solution,” he added.
“Pakistan continues to hope that, in a constructive approach, the parties will soon accept a mutual and early cessation of hostilities,” Ambassador Akram said, adding, “We also hope for the resumption of a dialogue for durable resolution of the conflict based on the principles of the UN Charter and past agreements, and bearing in mind the legitimate security interests of all States.”
The Assembly reiterated its demand that Russia “immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine” and called for an end to hostilities in the 11-paragraph resolution. Through the resolution, the Assembly urged Member States to work together in a spirit of solidarity to address the war’s global effects on the environment, financial markets, food security, and nuclear security and safety. The Assembly emphasized the need for arrangements for a lasting peace to take these factors into account and urged all countries to aid the Secretary-General in addressing these effects.
The 193-member Assembly, the Secretary-General, and the international community “have been consistent and vocal in our calls to end this war, and to adhere to the UN Charter and international law,” according to Assembly President Csaba Korosi, who presided over the emergency session that convened on Wednesday to begin debating the resolution. In order to ensure justice for all victims and the avertance of future crimes, the resolution also emphasized the necessity of independent national or international investigations and prosecutions for the most serious crimes against international law committed in Ukraine.
On Thursday, the Assembly also rejected two amendments put forth by Belarus, a Russian ally; Pakistan did not vote on those motions. The first proposal would have changed a number of the resolution’s clauses, and the second would have asked the Assembly to urge Member States to refrain from transferring weapons to the area of hostilities, among other things. After Russia vetoed a resolution that would have condemned the invasion of Ukraine, the UN Security Council members decided to allow the General Assembly to hold the eleventh emergency special session days after the invasion on February 24, 2022.
