According to the Envoy, the selective application of legal norms aggravates global instability and weakens the multilateral system
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad during the UN Security Council session. PHOTO: RADIOPAK
Pakistan has called for greater respect for international law, warning that selective application of legal principles worsens global instability.
Speaking at a high-level United Nations (UN) Security Council public debate on January 26, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the erosion of the rule of law contributes to conflicts, humanitarian crises and weakening trust between countries.
He said the aim of international law was to make relations between states predictable and stable. But when countries ignore agreed rules, he warns, the law risks losing its meaning. The Pakistani envoy stressed that “reaffirmation of the international rule of law is not an abstract legal exercise but a prerequisite for peace, justice and collective security.”
He noted that fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter – including sovereign equality, non-interference, political independence, territorial integrity and the prohibition of the threat or use of force – are increasingly being called into question.
“The selective application of legal norms, the erosion of treaty obligations and unilateral actions have weakened trust between States and put a strain on the multilateral system of the United Nations Charter,” he stressed. “When law yields to power or opportunism, instability deepens, disputes become more entrenched, and peaceful coexistence is compromised.” He warned against attempts to normalize unilateral actions outside the UN framework.
Referring to tensions with India, Ambassador Ahmad said Pakistan had directly faced violations of international law. He said that last May, “India carried out unprovoked military aggression, in violation of international law and the sovereignty of Pakistan.” It noted that Pakistan, “acting in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter,” exercised “its inherent right of self-defense in a responsible, restrained and proportionate manner.”
“Our response has established that there can be no new normal based on coercion or impunity,” he said, adding that “respect for international law remains the only legitimate norm governing interstate conduct.”
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Ahmad identified the “root cause of instability in South Asia” as “India’s illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir in blatant violation of Security Council resolutions”, warning of serious human rights consequences that jeopardize lasting peace.
He added that lasting peace in South Asia required resolving the Kashmir conflict in accordance with UN resolutions and ensuring compliance with treaty obligations, including water-sharing agreements. He also condemned India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it “another blatant violation of international obligations, threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of people, endangering peace and security.”
“Pakistan rejects the militarization of water and critical natural resources,” Ahmad said, emphasizing that respect for treaties is the cornerstone of the international legal order.
Despite regional tensions, Pakistan has demonstrated its commitment to peaceful resolution of disputes, Ahmad stressed. He said that “within weeks of defeating military aggression, Pakistan led the unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution 27 (88) on the peaceful settlement of disputes.” This, the Ambassador said, reaffirms the Council’s collective commitment to dialogue, mediation, judicial settlement and other peaceful means as the first resort to resolve disputes.
Turning to the broader global situation, the Pakistani envoy acknowledged that “due to double standards and complete lack of respect, the international system has often failed and failed to fully benefit many countries, especially in the Global South.”
Despite this, he said, countries of the South continue to place their trust in the United Nations and a fair, rules-based international order. Ahmad called for UN reform “towards equality, democracy and accountability, away from unbridled power and rights”, declaring “reform for all, a privilege for none”.
The UN envoy also highlighted what he called positive developments in international law. Despite geopolitical tensions, he said, the international legal framework remains resilient. He welcomed the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement and the work of the International Law Commission on Sea Level Rise, demonstrating the capacity to respond to emerging challenges.
He also welcomed the recent advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice on Palestine and climate change, stressing that “these opinions must be respected and applied universally because selective acceptance would undermine the authority of the Court and confidence in international justice.”
Addressing the situation in Palestine, Ahmad said it “clearly illustrates the consequences of selective adherence to international law.”
“The continued denial of the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination, persistent violations of international humanitarian law and disregard for relevant UN resolutions are eroding the credibility of the international system,” Ahmad said. He stressed that “a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through full respect for international law and the equal application of legal principles to all.”
To prevent selective application of international law, Ahmad made two proposals. He stressed that it is imperative that “member states fulfill their obligations under Article 25 of the Charter to implement the decisions of the Council”.
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First, “the Security Council should design effective mechanisms to systematically monitor the implementation of its own resolutions and take action in cases of persistent non-compliance.” Second, “the Council should involve the ICJ in a more systematic manner.”
He said the rule of law could not be maintained by declarations alone. “If multilateralism is to endure,” he declared, “law must prevail over force and justice over impunity.”
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to resolving disputes peacefully and supporting a UN-centric international order based on equal rules for all states. “Pakistan remains committed to a rules-based international order inspired by the Charter of the United Nations, in which disputes are resolved peacefully, obligations are honored and the United Nations serves as a true guarantor of peace, justice and dignity for all,” he added.
