Pakistan calls for fairer global order at UN

Pakistan calls for fairer global order at UN

WASHINGTON: Pak­istan has called for a more representative international order and consistent application of international law during a series of debates at the United Nations this week. Its interventions covered Security Council reform, military artificial intelligence (AI), weapons of mass destruction, radiation safety, human rights and conflicts in the Middle East, highlighting the need to balance international security with accountability and the interests of developing countries. Addressing the General Assembly on Thursday, Pakistan’s acting permanent representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, opposed creating additional permanent seats on the Security Council, arguing that this would perpetuate existing inequalities. “The question is not whether the Council should be reformed, but how to make it more representative, democratic, transparent and accountable,” he said. Pakistan favoured expanding elected, non-permanent membership through regular elections and fair regional rotation, while seeking adequate representation for Africa and other underrepresented regions. On military AI, Mr Jadoon called for inclusive, UN-led governance, warning that the technology could accelerate military decision-making and increase escalation risks, particularly in situations involving nuclear weapons. He also stressed the need for meaningful human control over autonomous weapons systems. At the General Assembly’s First Committee, Counsellor Syed Atif Raza warned that advances in AI, synthetic biology and the life and chemical sciences were creating new security risks. He called for safeguards against the misuse of scientific developments without restricting developing countries’ access to peaceful applications. Pakistan reaffirmed its commitments under the biological and chemical weapons conventions, stressing the importance of verification and international cooperation. Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2026