Pakistan urges restraint, peaceful resolution in Venezuela
Foreign Office. Photo: File
Pakistan on Sunday urged restraint and de-escalation to bring an end to the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, underscoring the need for adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law to resolve all outstanding issues, the Foreign Office said in a statement.
“Pakistan attaches great importance to the well-being of the people of Venezuela and views with concern the evolving situation in the country,” the statement said.
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Situation in Venezuela https://t.co/uczC5S9QGL
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RfDBJhiPenCalling for restraint and de-escalation, the Foreign Office stressed that all issues should be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.
The statement added that Pakistan was closely monitoring developments and remained engaged in ensuring the safety and security of members of the Pakistani community in Venezuela.
Read:Trump says US launched major strike, captured Venezuela leader Maduro and wife
The statement comes amid major developments in Venezuela, where US forces carried out an operation involving 150 aircraft taking off from 20 airbases to seize President Nicolas Maduro. The United States bombed Venezuela and toppled Maduro’s government, drawing both condemnation and praise internationally.
Addressing a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Saturday, US President Donald Trump described the operation to seize Maduro as one of the “most stunning, effective and powerful displays of American military might and competence in American history”.
The operation was described as the riskiest and most high-profile military action sanctioned by Washington since the 2011 raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in which al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed.
Following months of escalation and threats over Maduro’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking to the United States, the Trump administration had intensified pressure on Caracas through a military build-up in the Caribbean and missile attacks on alleged drug-running boats, incidents that reportedly killed more than 100 people and whose legality has been questioned by the United Nations and legal experts.
Also Read: Maduro in New York detention centre as Trump says US to 'run' Venezuela
According to reports, a US government aircraft carrying Maduro landed at a military base shortly after nightfall, after which he was transported by helicopter to New York City to face arraignment on drug trafficking and weapons charges. The White House later posted a video on X showing Maduro handcuffed and escorted by federal agents at a US Drug Enforcement Administration facility in New York.
Despite the success of the operation, uncertainty persists over the next steps. Trump said he was “designating people” from his cabinet to oversee matters in Venezuela but did not provide further details.
He also indicated that US troops could be deployed, saying Washington was “not afraid of boots on the ground,” while suggesting he could work with Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez rather than the opposition taking power.
Meanwhile, US-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on social media that “the hour of freedom has arrived” and called for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia to “immediately” assume the presidency.
However, Trump played down expectations that Machado could become Venezuela’s new leader, saying she lacked “support or respect” within the country.