Welcoming FDS-Government agreement, UN envoy calls for stability and protection of Kurdish rights
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad at the UN Security Council session. PHOTO: RADIOPAK
THE UNITED NATIONS:
Welcoming the recent agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition of ethnic militias, Pakistan has urged Damascus to remain on the path of an inclusive political transition towards a stable and unified country.
“We hope that its faithful implementation will bring stability and strengthen the unity and territorial integrity of Syria,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council, which discussed the situation in Syria.
“Over the past fourteen months, notable steps have been taken to advance the political transition in Syria. Progressive and complex, these measures nevertheless reflect a movement towards stabilization after years of conflict,” he said.
“We hope to see this trajectory continue in a stable and inclusive manner, anchored in national ownership, strengthening state institutions, consolidating security and creating the conditions conducive to lasting peace.”
In this regard, the Pakistani envoy also welcomed recent state initiatives, including the January 16 presidential decree regarding the rights of the Kurdish community, as constructive steps towards national cohesion.
At the same time, the ambassador said significant challenges persist.
“The terrorist threat remains acute. The presence and continued activities of terrorist groups, including foreign terrorist fighters, particularly MITO, pose serious risks to Syria’s stability and regional security,” he said, emphasizing that these elements must be addressed in a coordinated and effective manner, in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
“Counterterrorism efforts must remain precise and focused, without confusing state institutions and non-state actors. It is equally important that detention centers holding terrorists are managed and transferred responsibly to avoid instability or fallout. »
The grave humanitarian situation – the result of years of conflict in Syria – also requires continued attention, as millions of Syrians require sustained assistance, while infrastructure, basic services and livelihoods remain under severe pressure.
“Ensuring safe and unhindered humanitarian access, as well as increased support for early recovery, is essential to alleviate suffering and restore dignity,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding that with the lifting of sanctions, there is an opportunity to gradually move from a predominantly humanitarian framework to the revitalization of economic and commercial activity, to enable a meaningful recovery.
Reiterating Pakistan’s strong condemnation of Israeli violations of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and other destabilizing actions, the envoy called such actions “unacceptable.”
