Islamabad (GNP): Sardar Masood Khan, former Pakistani Ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations, and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, said the United Nations remains the world’s largest multilateral body and must be strengthened, with greater emphasis on the rule of law and a revitalized multilateral system to address today’s global crises.
Speaking in a television interview on the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Khan said the widening confrontation between the US and Iran has produced serious regional and global repercussions, while the situation involving the Houthis, Saudi Arabia, and the broader Gulf region has further complicated the security landscape. He said the current moment calls for sustained diplomatic engagement alongside security measures.
On the Houthi issue and the broader regional conflict, he said Pakistan’s defence commitments to Saudi Arabia must be viewed in tandem with its ongoing diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington, arguing that Pakistan can simultaneously stand by Saudi Arabia while pursuing diplomatic channels to de-escalate tensions and bring parties back to the negotiating table.
Khan said the key question surrounding the US-Iran standoff is whether the conflict will continue to intensify or whether a negotiated resolution can be reached. He noted that both sides have publicly stated their positions while leaving some room for diplomatic engagement, adding that direct talks between the two, should they occur, would signal that negotiators have found enough common ground to proceed.
He said the ongoing conflict has imposed significant costs on Iran and the broader region while also placing considerable military and economic strain on the United States, with consequences extending well beyond the two parties directly involved to affect Gulf states, energy markets, trade, and regional stability more broadly.
Turning to the United Nations, Khan attributed the organization’s diminishing influence partly to financial constraints and the Security Council’s difficulty responding effectively to major conflicts. While acknowledging legitimate concerns about bureaucracy, budget management, and efficiency within the UN system, he argued these issues should be addressed through reform rather than by abandoning the institution altogether.
He said the UN should not be discarded but rather strengthened, describing it as the principal guardian of international treaties, conventions, and the broader multilateral order.
Khan pointed to Pakistan’s recent diplomatic efforts as evidence that effective mediation can help fill gaps when larger multilateral mechanisms fall short, though he stressed that Pakistan’s diplomatic role has been supported by Qatar, Oman, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and China rather than pursued unilaterally.
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He also called for institutionalizing Pakistan-US relations in a way that transcends individual relationships and political cycles, while maintaining balanced ties with both Iran and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, he urged Pakistan to pursue proactive diplomatic engagement with India, particularly on water-related disputes, while continuing to uphold its principled stance on Kashmir and the right of Kashmiris to self-determination.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
