Welcomes SDF government deal, 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
UNITED NATIONS:
Welcoming the recent agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition of ethnic militias, Pakistan urged Damascus to remain on track towards an inclusive political transition towards a stable and united country.
“We expect its faithful implementation to bring stability and strengthen Syria’s unity and territorial integrity,” said Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council, which discussed the situation in Syria.
“Over the past fourteen months, remarkable steps have been taken to advance Syria’s political transition. Gradual and intricate, these measures nevertheless reflect 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 conditions conducive to lasting peace.”
In this regard, the Pakistani envoy also praised the recent state initiatives, including the January 16 presidential decree on the rights of the Kurdish community, as constructive steps towards national unity.
At the same time, the ambassador said that there are still significant challenges.
“The threat of terrorism remains acute. The continued presence and activities of terrorist groups, including foreign terrorist fighters, especially ETIM, pose serious risks to Syria’s stability and regional security,” he said, stressing 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 conflating state institutions with non-state actors. It is equally important that detention facilities that hold terrorists are managed and restructured responsibly to prevent instability or spillover.”
The dire humanitarian situation – the result of years of conflict in Syria – also requires continued attention, with millions of Syrians in need of sustained assistance as infrastructure, basic services and livelihoods remain under severe pressure.
“Ensuring safe and unhindered humanitarian access, along with enhanced support for early recovery, is critical to alleviating suffering and restoring dignity,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding that with the lifting of sanctions, there is an opportunity to gradually shift from a predominantly humanitarian framework to revitalizing economic and commercial activity to enable meaningful recovery.
The envoy reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of Israeli violations of the 1974 Withdrawal Agreement and other destabilizing actions, terming such actions “unacceptable”.
