New York: In a forceful address to the United Nations Security Council, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for comprehensive sanctions against Israel, including an arms and trade embargo, to halt what he described as genocidal acts against Palestinians. His remarks were part of the High-Level Open Debate on “Leadership for Peace,” held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Sharif condemned the recent bombings in Beirut by Israel, demanding an immediate cessation of violence in Gaza and efforts to prevent a broader Middle Eastern conflict. In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, he also pressed the Security Council to work towards an impartial ceasefire and a peaceful resolution.

Highlighting the broader impacts of conflict, the Prime Minister pointed to the destabilizing wars in the Middle East and Europe, as well as escalating poverty, as threats to global stability. He emphasized the urgent need for the Security Council to address other longstanding conflicts, specifically the dispute in Jammu and Kashmir. Sharif argued that the dispute continues to threaten international peace and security and called for the implementation of the Council’s resolutions, which advocate for a plebiscite in Kashmir.

On the topic of terrorism, Sharif urged the Security Council to tackle the resurgence of threats, particularly from groups like Daesh (ISIL-K) and Fitna al-Khawarij in Afghanistan. He called for the Council’s active support for African countries and the African Union in their fight against terrorism and foreign interference.

Sharif also discussed the necessity of enhancing UN peacekeeping efforts and establishing Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) to prevent conflicts between major global powers, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. He stressed the importance of a global stance of zero tolerance towards the illegal use of force and the imperative to curb the burgeoning arms race, which now includes both nuclear and conventional weapons as well as emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s commitment to pursuing these objectives vigorously when it assumes its seat at the Security Council next year, pledging to cooperate closely with other member states in these endeavors.