Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, on Friday strongly condemned Israel’s strike on Qatar, calling it a violation of international law and the UN Charter. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) emergency meeting on the Middle East, Iftikhar described the attack as not only an assault on a sovereign nation but also a threat to international peace and security. “This reckless and provocative strike flagrantly violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar, contravening the fundamental principles of international law, including the UN Charter,” the envoy said. Ambassador Iftikhar further emphasized: “At a time when delicate negotiations on a Gaza peace deal were moving toward a potential breakthrough, targeting the territory of a principal mediator and parties directly involved in diplomacy is a deliberate attempt to sabotage peace efforts and prolong civilian suffering.” While the UNSC condemned the strikes on Doha, its statement did not explicitly name Israel, although it was supported by all 15 members, including the United States. In his address, Iftikhar reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Qatar’s mediation role in the Middle East and reiterated Islamabad’s backing of a two-state solution. He warned that Israel’s actions undermine regional stability and hinder prospects for a just and lasting peace. “This brazen and illegal assault is not an isolated event; it reflects a broader, consistent pattern of aggression and violations of international law by Israel. Pakistan stands firmly with Qatar,” he added, stressing that breaches of international law and peace cannot be ignored. “It is evident, that Israel, the occupying power is bent on doing everything to undermine and blowup every possibility of peace. Clearly, Israel’s destructive policies are incompatible with the international community’s quest for peace and stability. Sadly, it has been emboldened by the weak response, and inaction by this Council,” the diplomat lamented. While speaking on the water dispute, Iftikhar also raised concerns over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), emphasising that water should never be used as a weapon. He underlined that the treaty, in place for more than six decades, remained Pakistan’s lifeline and could not be suspended unilaterally by any party. The UN envoy stated that despite political tensions, the IWT had endured as a framework for cooperation on shared resources. However, he warned that India’s suspension of regular water-flow data sharing had raised concerns that New Delhi could either block water to Pakistan or trigger flooding by releasing large volumes at once. At a time when devastating floods have again hit Pakistan, the envoy stressed that cooperation over water management was not a choice but a necessity.
Pakistan Condemns Israel’s Qatar Strikes as Ongoing Aggression at UN
