ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has wrapped up its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of July, the country’s UN mission said on Friday, after Islamabad helped refocused global attention on Gaza and the Middle East amid Israeli military actions.
Pakistan assumed the UNSC presidency at a time of a spiraling hunger crisis in Gaza due to Israel’s blockade of the territory, which did not allow any humanitarian aid to get through to war-torn Palestinian people, as well as Tel Aviv’s military actions elsewhere in the Middle East.
The South Asian country hosted an open debate at the Council and called for an immediate ceasefire and deliver of relief items to Gaza. It also backed an “inclusive” political process to stabilize a Syria rocked by clashes between the Druze minority and Bedouin clans that killed over 250 people.
Speaking at the wrap-up session, Pakistan’s envoy, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, expressed his deep appreciation to all UNSC members for their cooperation, collegiality and active engagement throughout his country’s presidency last month.
“Pakistan approached its presidency with a sense of humility, deep commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and focus on Council’s core mandate for maintaining international peace and security,” he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s UN mission.
