Pakistan supports Bahrain and Russia draft resolutions at UN Security Council, calls for de-escalation

Washington: Pakistan has clarified its position regarding its votes on two separate draft resolutions presented at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), emphasizing that both initiatives were intended to prevent further escalation in the region and to encourage a prompt return to dialogue.

On March 11, the Security Council adopted a resolution led by Bahrain that condemned recent missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran on several Gulf countries. The resolution specifically named Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan as the targeted states. It called for an immediate halt to all such attacks.

In addition to the Bahrain-led resolution, Russia introduced its own draft resolution addressing the ongoing military escalation in the Middle East. However, this Russian proposal was vetoed by the United States. The Russian draft received four votes in favor, coming from Russia, China, Somalia, and Pakistan. The United States and Latvia voted against it, while nine other members of the Security Council abstained from voting.

During the Security Council meeting on the "Situation in the Middle East," Pakistan’s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad explained the country’s rationale for its voting decisions. He stated that both resolutions were aimed at reducing tensions in the region and fostering immediate dialogue among the concerned parties.

The adoption of the Bahrain-led resolution and the subsequent discussion of the Russian draft highlight the ongoing divisions within the Security Council regarding approaches to addressing regional security concerns and the broader issue of military escalation in the Middle East.

Ambassador Ahmad reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting efforts that promote peace and stability in the region, underscoring the importance of diplomatic engagement and de-escalation.