Pakistan Urges Syria Peace, Gaza Ceasefire at UN

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Pakistan has called for an inclusive political solution to end the conflict in Syria and demanded an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, during a United Nations Security Council debate on Middle East tensions.

Pakistan has reaffirmed its support for an inclusive political process in Syria and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during a recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session focused on the Middle East. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar delivered the remarks in New York, where Pakistan currently holds the rotating presidency of the UNSC.

In his address to the Council, Dar underscored the need to preserve Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stating that long-term peace could only be achieved through a Syrian-led political dialogue that includes all factions. His comments come amid fresh unrest in southern Syria, where violent clashes between the Druze minority and Bedouin tribes erupted earlier this month, reportedly killing over 250 people and displacing more than 128,000, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The violence, which began on July 13, has significantly strained Syria’s fragile post-war recovery. The clashes were further complicated by Israeli military action, with reports of strikes on a Syrian tank convoy and shelling of the country’s Ministry of Defence in Damascus. These strikes were said to be in support of the Druze faction, although Israel has not publicly confirmed these claims. Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa has since announced a ceasefire between the warring communities, though its durability remains uncertain.

Dar also condemned Israel’s military operations in Gaza and called for an “unconditional and immediate” ceasefire. He urged Israel to withdraw from the separation zone established by the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and to vacate the Syrian Golan Heights, in accordance with long-standing UNSC resolutions.

“Pakistan supports the stabilization of Syria through an inclusive political process,” Dar told the Council. “Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity must be upheld.”

Pakistan’s stance reflects its broader foreign policy approach of advocating non-intervention, multilateral diplomacy, and a rules-based international order principles it claims are under increasing pressure in the current global environment.

While Islamabad has often taken positions aligned with broader developing-world perspectives, its leadership at the UNSC this month has highlighted the growing role it seeks to play in regional diplomacy. At a time when international attention remains heavily focused on Ukraine and global economic uncertainties, Pakistan’s emphasis on the Middle East aims to ensure that crises in countries like Syria and Gaza do not slip further into global neglect.