NEW YORK: Pakistan on Monday expressed “profound concern” over the rapidly unfolding situation in Venezuela, warning that escalating tensions posed serious risks to regional and international peace and security.
The remarks were made during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), convened to discuss recent developments in Venezuela following a surprise US military operation on Saturday in which American special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The meeting marked the first UNSC session of the year, chaired by Somalia.
Addressing the Council, Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said that at a time when the international community was already grappling with multiple global crises, further instability in the region “does not augur well for regional and international peace and security”.
He reminded Council members that the UN Charter obliges states to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country, and to respect sovereign equality, non-interference in internal affairs, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Ambassador Jadoon cautioned that unilateral military action violated these “sacrosanct principles” as well as the doctrine of sovereign immunity, warning that such actions set dangerous precedents and risk undermining the global legal order.
He added that history showed such actions often fuel instability, leading to “unpredictable and uncontrollable outcomes for years to come”.
Calling for immediate de-escalation, the Pakistani envoy stressed that the only viable path forward was dialogue and diplomacy. He said durable solutions to political disputes could only be achieved through peaceful means and with full respect for the will of the Venezuelan people, free from external interference.
Jadoon expressed hope that Latin America and the Caribbean, recognised internationally as a “Zone of Peace”, would remain free from conflict and continue progressing towards greater regional cooperation and prosperity.
Pakistan urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, avoid actions that could further aggravate the situation, and engage in dialogue, including through sincere offers of mediation. He noted that the offices of the UN secretary-general remained available to facilitate such efforts.
Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Jadoon reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to contributing constructively to the Security Council’s mandate by promoting peaceful conflict resolution, easing tensions, and upholding international law and the UN Charter.
“The peace and stability of Venezuela, and the welfare and prosperity of its people — with full national ownership — must remain the overriding objective of all efforts,” he said.
