Permanent Representative to UN says diplomacy, dialogue must guide process, calling for sustained negotiations
Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad Photo: APP
Pakistan has reaffirmed its support for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through peaceful means, emphasizing diplomacy and dialogue as the only viable avenues. Radio Pakistan reported.
Speaking at a UN Security Council briefing on the 1737 Committee established to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities and oversee compliance with sanctions, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said all disputes should be resolved through negotiations in accordance with the rights, obligations and responsibilities of all parties.
“The JCPOA was a unique instrument, a manifestation of an approach based on dialogue, diplomacy and pragmatism. It was the result of painstaking and constructive negotiations, establishing a road map to comprehensively address the concerns of all parties,” he noted in an article on X.
The JCPOA was a unique instrument – manifestation of an approach based on dialogue, diplomacy and pragmatism. It was the result of careful and arduous, but constructive, negotiations. It has drawn up a roadmap to comprehensively address the concerns of the parties based on… pic.twitter.com/m9Bgs3OdPf
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) March 12, 2026
The committee was originally established after Iran failed to curb its nuclear enrichment activities, although its role as rapporteur evolved alongside broader diplomatic developments.
Ahmad stressed that diplomatic engagement remains crucial amid heightened regional tensions. “Diplomacy and dialogue must guide the process,” he told Council members, calling for sustained talks that respect international law and non-proliferation norms.
He stressed that compliance with IAEA safeguards and negotiated agreements, including the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is essential to reduce mistrust and avoid escalation.
Read: At the UNSC, Pakistan walks a diplomatic tightrope
Amid wider instability in the region, Ahmad called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint. He pressed for a permanent ceasefire and the resumption of dialogue, warning that unresolved conflicts threaten regional peace and global non-proliferation efforts.
“Returning to the negotiating table is essential,” he said, stressing that a peaceful settlement serves the interests of all parties and avoids further destabilization in the region.
The Middle East remains in an unstable state as a major conflict between Iran, Israel and the United States continues to unfold following coordinated airstrikes between the United States and Israel against Iranian military and strategic targets that began on February 28.
