Pakistan backs UN's Libya plan

UNITED NATIONS:

Pakistan has called for supporting the political roadmap proposed by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), which aims to guide the divided country toward national elections and unifying its state institutions.

"The political roadmap facilitated by UNSMIL offers a timely and credible opportunity to advance political reconciliation and move toward ending the transition period," Ambassador Usman Jadoon, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the Security Council on Friday.

(Nearly 15 years after the fall of former President Muammar Gaddafi, Libya remains split between two rival administrations: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, located in the western capital of Tripoli, and the rival Government of National Stability based in Benghazi in the east.)

Pakistan's principled position remains anchored in a core conviction — a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process is the only viable pathway towards sustainable peace and stability," he said.

The Pakistani delegate praised the political roadmap, facilitated by UNSMIL, while noting a gap "between intent and implementation".

Noting that UNSMIL has initiated nominations for a structured dialogue process, Ambassador Jadoon urged all Libyan actors to engage constructively so that momentum is not lost at this critical juncture.

The Pakistani envoy welcomed the mediation efforts by relevant Libyan and international actors that de-escalated tensions in Tripoli and prevented a relapse into conflict. "The fragile calm must now be consolidated through confidence-building measures, the full implementation of agreed security arrangements, and sustained progress on security sector reform."

Pakistan, he said, was "committed to supporting all efforts that help the Libyan people realize their aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity. Toward that goal, we will continue to work constructively with Council members and the wider international community."

Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of (UNSMIL), noted that the implementation of the political roadmap, which she presented to the Council on 21 August, has been "quite challenging".