Pakistan calls for urgent Ukraine ceasefire at UN as civilian toll rises

UNITED NATIONS: At an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan has urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, warning that the escalating conflict is inflicting severe humanitarian damage, particularly on civilians and children.

Speaking at the UN meeting convened after reports of a strike on a college dormitory in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN Asim Iftikhar Ahmad called for urgent diplomatic efforts to halt the war.

He said the worsening situation demanded immediate international attention, stressing that civilians must never be targeted in armed conflict and urging all parties to shift away from military escalation.

“Military means cannot bring lasting peace,” he told the 15-member council, adding that only dialogue and sustained political will could bring an end to the prolonged war.

UN officials informed the council that the reported dormitory strike killed six people and injured several others, including children, adding to what they described as a broader pattern of civilian harm since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.

Humanitarian representatives painted a grim picture of the conflict’s toll, citing tens of thousands of civilian casualties and warning that actual figures could be significantly higher due to underreporting in active conflict zones.

UNICEF officials further highlighted the impact on children, stating that thousands have been killed or injured since the escalation of the war, while millions more continue to suffer psychological distress due to ongoing hostilities.

The Pakistani delegation reiterated that only a complete cessation of hostilities, backed by diplomacy, can pave the way for lasting peace, as global concern over the war’s humanitarian cost continues to grow.