Stresses the need to respect the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law to resolve all outstanding issues
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: File
Pakistan on Sunday called for restraint and de-escalation to end the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, emphasizing the need to respect the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law to resolve all outstanding issues, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
“Pakistan attaches great importance to the well-being of the Venezuelan people and views with concern the developments in the country,” the statement said.
Calling for restraint and de-escalation, the Foreign Ministry stressed that all issues should be resolved by peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter.
The statement added that Pakistan is closely monitoring the developments and remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of members of the Pakistani community in Venezuela.
Read:Trump says US launched major strike, captured Venezuelan leader Maduro and his wife
The statement comes amid major developments in Venezuela, where US forces carried out an operation involving 150 planes taking off from 20 air bases to capture President Nicolas Maduro. The United States bombed Venezuela and overthrew Maduro’s government, drawing both international condemnation and praise.
Addressing a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Saturday, US President Donald Trump described the operation to capture Maduro as one of the “most astonishing, effective and powerful demonstrations of American military power and skill in American history.”
The operation was described as the riskiest and highest-profile military action sanctioned by Washington since the 2011 raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in which al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed.
After months of escalation and threats over Maduro’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking to the United States, the Trump administration has stepped up pressure on Caracas through a military buildup in the Caribbean and missile attacks on suspected drug-trafficking boats, incidents that have reportedly killed more than 100 people and whose legality has been questioned by the United Nations and legal experts.
Read also: Maduro in New York detention center as Trump says US will ‘run’ Venezuela
According to reports, a US government plane carrying Maduro landed at a military base shortly after dark, after which he was flown by helicopter to New York to face trial on drug and weapons charges. The White House later released a video on X showing Maduro handcuffed and escorted by federal agents to a US Drug Enforcement Administration facility in New York.
Despite the success of the operation, uncertainty persists about the next steps. Trump said he was “designating individuals” from his cabinet to oversee affairs in Venezuela, but did not provide further details.
He also indicated that U.S. troops could be deployed, saying Washington was “not afraid of troops on the ground,” while suggesting he could work with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez rather than letting the opposition take power.
Meanwhile, U.S.-backed opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on social media that “the time for freedom has arrived” and called on opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia to “immediately” assume the presidency.
However, Trump played down expectations that Machado could become Venezuela’s new leader, saying she lacked “support or respect” within the country.
