ISLAMABAD(National times)- Pakistan has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over Israeli aggression in Qatar. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that in view of Israel’s unprovoked and illegal aggression on Qatar, Pakistan, in coordination with Algeria and Somalia, has requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council. In a tweet, Dar emphasized that the matter is extremely serious and requires immediate attention from the Security Council. Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity and unwavering support for the Qatari government and its people. Earlier, following the Israeli attacks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the actions and personally contacted the Emir of Qatar by phone to express complete solidarity. Separately, Pakistan called for strengthening and better equipping the United Nations peacekeeping to address the underlying causes of disputes, saying the missions must be designed with clear priorities, achievable tasks, and credible leadership.

Pakistan calls for boosting UN peacekeeping missions’ role to resolve disputes

“Missions should be empowered to sustain ceasefires, deter escalation, and foster dialogue, including through the Secretary-General’s good offices and preventive diplomacy,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday. Speaking in a debate on UN peace operations, held under South Korea’s presidency, he voiced concern that peacekeeping, just like UN, was under siege, as it was starved of resources, constrained in mandates, and shrinking in presence. “But”, the Pakistani envoy said, “We cannot let one of multilateralism’s most effective tools be sidelined by inaction. We are all stakeholders in its success, and we must act to not only preserve but to make this instrument even more relevant and fit for purpose and fit for future – corresponding to the diverse challenges in the domain of peace and security.”