Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative at the UN, spoke during a Security Council Open Debate on the Middle East. He identified the Palestinian issue as the root of regional instability.
Asim Iftikhar emphasized that establishing a Palestinian state through a two-State solution is crucial for comprehensive peace in the region. This was his stance amidst ongoing Israeli occupation and unresolved Palestinian issues.
Despite a ceasefire in Gaza, Asim Iftikhar reported over 800 Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks. He also highlighted alarming settler violence in the West Bank and expansion of illegal settlements.
The envoy called for immediate completion of the second phase of the Gaza peace plan. He criticized Israel’s discriminatory measures, which he said are strengthening a system based on racial discrimination.
Asim Iftikhar further condemned ongoing incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and violations of holy sites, stating that these must stop immediately. Over 2,000 civilians have been killed or injured due to Israeli military operations in Lebanon, according to the envoy.