Steadfast for Palestine

At a time when global responses to the unending Palestinian tragedy oscillate between hesitation and opportunism, Pakistan's position at the UN stands out for its moral clarity and diplomatic consistency. Islamabad's vote in favour of the latest UNSC resolution — despite its contentious origins as a US-drafted text tied to President Donald Trump's Gaza plan — was not an endorsement of geopolitical manoeuvring. Rather, as Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad made clear, it was a vote cast with the single purpose of stopping the bloodshed and protecting a besieged people who have endured far too much.

Pakistan's stance has always been guided by an unwavering principle — that peace in the Middle East is impossible without ending the occupation and recognising the Palestinians' inherent and unconditional right to self-determination. The cycle of violence cannot be broken unless a credible political horizon is restored, one that leads unambiguously to a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders. This clarity is particularly important now.

The new resolution, which authorises an International Stabilisation Force and aims to legitimise a transitional governance structure for Gaza, has split global opinion. Russia and China abstained while other states hesitated. Yet Pakistan aligned its position with the Palestinians themselves, as well as with the wider Arab and Islamic bloc. Islamabad's diplomacy did not end with its vote. Pakistan actively engaged throughout the negotiations, backing Arab amendments and tabling its own to ensure the text remained anchored in established international law and existing UNSC resolutions.

In an international environment increasingly shaped by realpolitik, Pakistan's stance had made clear that principles still matter — especially for nations that have long championed the rights of the oppressed. By standing firm with Palestine at a moment when global consensus is fragile, Islamabad has reaffirmed not only its diplomatic resolve but also its moral responsibility.