Pakistan raises alarm at UNSC, urges calm and diplomacy on Venezuela crisis

NEW YORK: Pakistan on Monday voiced strong concern over the unfolding situation in Venezuela, warning that rising tensions could have serious implications for regional and global stability, and called for restraint and dialogue to defuse the crisis.

Speaking at an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said the latest developments were troubling at a time when the international community was already confronting multiple conflicts and crises. The meeting, the Council’s first of the year, was convened to discuss the situation in Venezuela.

Ambassador Jadoon underscored that the UN Charter clearly obliges states to respect the sovereignty and political independence of other nations and to avoid the threat or use of force. He stressed that adherence to principles such as non-interference, sovereign equality and peaceful settlement of disputes was essential for maintaining international peace and security.

He warned that unilateral military actions ran counter to international law and the doctrine of sovereign immunity, cautioning that such steps could establish dangerous precedents and weaken the global legal order. History, he noted, had repeatedly shown that instability triggered by the use of force often leads to long-lasting and unpredictable consequences.

Calling for immediate de-escalation, the Pakistani envoy said dialogue and diplomacy were the only sustainable means of resolving political differences. Any solution, he added, must respect the will of the Venezuelan people and remain free from external pressure or interference.

Ambassador Jadoon also expressed hope that Latin America and the Caribbean, recognised internationally as a Zone of Peace, would be spared further confrontation and continue progressing towards regional cooperation and development.

Pakistan urged all sides to show maximum restraint, avoid actions that could further inflame the situation, and engage in meaningful dialogue, including through mediation. In this regard, Jadoon noted that the UN secretary-general’s good offices were available to support peaceful efforts.

In his concluding remarks, the ambassador reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working constructively within the Security Council to reduce tensions, promote peaceful conflict resolution and uphold international law. He stressed that ensuring peace and stability in Venezuela, along with the well-being and prosperity of its people, should remain the central goal of all international efforts.

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