In a solemn address at a CEIRPP special meeting on May 15, 2026, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, presents a principled defense of Palestinian rights and a clear roadmap for peace. He frames Nakba as an ongoing catastrophe rather than a closed historical chapter, noting that 78 years ago some 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced, with entire cities emptied, renamed, and their rights left unfulfilled. The Right of Return, affirmed in UN Resolution 194, remains unrealized, leaving millions of refugees in exile and stateless limbo. The ambassador connects this history to today’s crisis in Gaza, describing two years of heavy Israeli bombardment and a staggering death toll, including a large share of women and children, and the repeated displacement of Gaza’s residents with no safe haven. He highlights the heart-wrenching death of innocent children, including Hind Rajab, as a stark symbol of civilian suffering. In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, he condemns ongoing settlement expansion, settler violence, forced displacement, and collective punishment, arguing these actions aim to alter the demographic and geographic fabric of the Palestinian territories and render Palestinian life precarious. The storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli extremists is presented as the latest manifestation of policies that undermine legitimacy and threaten the future of Palestinians on their own land. Ahmad stresses UNRWA’s indispensability in providing relief and the need for continued political and financial support from the international community. He argues that remembrance alone is not enough; the Nakba must end through justice, accountability, and a peaceful end to occupation. Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for self-determination, freedom, and dignity, contending that the only viable path to durable peace is the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. While the ambassador links this stance to Pakistan’s own independence struggle, he also emphasizes that sustained international engagement—grounded in international law and humanitarian concerns—is essential for translating rhetoric into a just resolution. My view: the speech powerfully foregrounds humanitarian imperatives and long-standing international-law principles, and it rightly centers the plight of refugees, civilians, and the preservation of religious and cultural sites. It articulates a conventional but broadly supported framework for peace—the two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as capital—while calling for accountability and meaningful international involvement. However, achieving this vision requires balancing security concerns, Palestinian governance realities, and regional diplomacy. The emphasis on UNRWA is invaluable, but the speech could further acknowledge the legitimate security and governance challenges faced by both Palestinians and Israelis and propose concrete, incremental steps that build trust, protect civilians, and ensure humanitarian access in the near term while pursuing a political horizon for a durable settlement.
Source: Statement from @PakistanUN_NY
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Published: May 15, 2026, 1:30 pm
Editorial Note: This article is based on publicly available information and official statements. We strives for accuracy and fairness in all reporting.
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