Key Points
- Pakistan urged implementation of longstanding UNSC resolutions, particularly on Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir.
- Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the UN Charter, international law and global cooperation.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday reiterated its support for a stronger and more effective United Nations, urging the organisation’s incoming Secretary-General to undertake institutional reforms and ensure implementation of long-pending United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, particularly those relating to Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir.
The message was conveyed by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar during a meeting with María Fernanda Espinosa, former foreign minister of Ecuador and a candidate for the position of the next United Nations Secretary-General, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, Dar welcomed Espinosa and expressed Pakistan’s full support for strengthening multilateralism and ensuring the central role of the United Nations in global affairs.
He expressed the hope that the incoming UN Secretary-General would undertake much-needed reforms within the United Nations and ensure the implementation of longstanding UNSC resolutions, especially those concerning Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, which Pakistan considers crucial for lasting peace in the Middle East and South Asia.
Dar also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect for international law and treaties, and active international cooperation aimed at global peace and prosperity.
Choosing the UN chief
María Fernanda Espinosa is an Ecuadorian diplomat, politician and former president of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). She served as Ecuador’s foreign minister and became the first woman from Latin America and the Caribbean to preside over the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly (2018–19). She has also held senior positions related to climate change, sustainable development and international diplomacy.
The office of the United Nations Secretary-General is one of the world’s most influential diplomatic positions. The Secretary-General is appointed by the UN General Assembly upon the recommendation of the 15-member UN Security Council, where any of the five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — can veto a candidate.
Although the current UN Secretary-General’s term does not conclude until the end of 2026, prospective candidates have begun engaging with member states as part of the informal diplomatic process that precedes the formal selection.
Pakistan has consistently advocated a greater role for multilateral institutions and has frequently called for reforms of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council. Islamabad argues that unresolved disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine, continue to threaten international peace and security and that implementation of existing Security Council resolutions remains essential for their peaceful resolution.
Pakistan has also supported efforts to make the United Nations more representative, transparent and responsive to contemporary global challenges, including conflict prevention, climate change, sustainable development and international cooperation.
