New York, 24 February 2023 (GNP): Pakistan abstained from voting in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on a resolution calling for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
The resolution was moved in the General Assembly’s 11th emergency session, the day before the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, by more than 60 nations, including the United States and significant European powers.
By the resolution, the assembly also asked member nations to work together in a spirit of solidarity to confront the war’s global effects on the environment, finance, energy, food security, and nuclear security and safety.
The resolution, which stressed that the Russian invasion violated the UN Charter’s values, was approved by the assembly with 141 votes in favor and seven votes against it.
Seven countries — Belarus, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, North Korea, Eritrea, and Mali — voted against the resolution. All have close military and political ties with Russia.
32 countries, including China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia abstained from voting on resolutions calling for an end to war. Both India and Pakistan abstained from voting on UN resolutions regarding Ukraine; India due to historical links and Pakistan due to potential future issues.
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, called Dr. Arif Alvi, his counterpart in Pakistan, on Wednesday to ask for Pakistan’s support.
Speaking in explanation of his vote, Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram said he had abstained on the resolution, which was drafted by Ukraine, despite efforts by the co-sponsors to moderate its tone, as some provisions were still inconsistent with Islamabad’s principled position.
Pakistani Ambassador further added that Pakistan completely supports the resolution’s call for respecting the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and non-aggression towards other states. The Pakistani diplomat asserted that states cannot be broken apart through the use of force.
In the case of the current endeavor to annex Jammu & Kashmir illegally and forcibly, as well as the situation of foreign occupation, Ambassador Akram expressed sorrow that these principles have not been universally followed and maintained.
Pakistan continues to hope that, in a constructive approach, the parties will soon accept a mutual and early cessation of hostilities,” Ambassador Akram said, adding, “we also hope for the resumption of a dialogue for durable resolution of the conflict based on the principles of the UN Charter and past agreements, and bearing in mind the legitimate security interests of all States.”
