Key points
- Envoy urges int’l community to support Syria
- Warns of resurgence of terrorism
- Pledges to remain committed to peace in Middle East
ISLAMABAD: A top Pakistani diplomat told the UN Security Council Wednesday that the path to peace and stability in Syria required a credible political transition, national unity and an inclusive governance framework.
“The international community must remain engaged and constructive in supporting this process. Pakistan stands firmly with the brotherly and resilient people of Syria,” said Ambassador Munir Akram, who is Pakistan’s permanent representative at the UN.
“A strong and unified national security framework” in Syria was the key to ensuring the strife-torn country’s long-term stability and preventing external interference, he said as he voiced concern over the continuing violence in some of its parts.
“The path to peace and stability in Syria requires a credible political transition, national unity and an inclusive governance framework. The international community must remain engaged and constructive in supporting this process. Pakistan stands firmly with the brotherly and… pic.twitter.com/FVrUhj6XI4
— Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN (@PakistanUN_NY) February 12, 2025
He said the international community must remain engaged and constructive in supporting this process and added that Pakistan stands firmly with the brotherly and resilient people of Syria.
Susceptibility to terrorism
“Syria must not become a safe haven for terrorism,” Ambassador Munir Akram said after UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya briefed the 15-member council on the political and humanitarian situation in the Arab country that is recovering from last November’s collapse of the al-Assad regime.
Pakistan stands firmly with the brotherly and resilient people of Syria.” –Pakistan’s permanent representative at the UN Munir Akram
“We hope the new leadership will guide Syria toward peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.
At the same time, he emphasised the need for vigilance over the presence of foreign fighters and groups with known terrorist affiliations, adding that any resurgence of Al-Qaeda, D’aesh and their affiliated groups must be prevented.
Acknowledgment
In his briefing, Pedersen, the UN special envoy, acknowledged commitments made by Syria’s interim president Ahmad Al-Sharaa but stressed that Syrians across the country expect tangible actions.
“All Syrians I met…stressed to me how much they want institutional appointments, the transitional government, the provisional legislative body, the national dialogue process and any preparatory committees, and these need to be credible and inclusive,” he said.
Fragile security situation
The fragile security situation continues to threaten political progress, Pedersen warned, citing ongoing hostilities in the northeast, including daily clashes, artillery exchanges, and airstrikes that are impacting civilians and infrastructure.
A recent wave of car bombings in residential areas has caused significant casualties, he said.
While welcoming initial dialogue between caretaker authorities and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeast, he urged the United States, Turkiye, and regional and national actors to work together on “genuine compromises” that enable peace and stability.
“It is crucial that all doors remain open to ensuring the inclusion of all parts of Syria and all key constituencies within the political transition,” he added.
Concerns are also growing over economic stability against a backdrop of sanctions, widespread poverty and sudden donor cuts to humanitarian aid.
