By The South Asia Times

NEW YORK  – Pakistan has reaffirmed its long-standing support for the Palestinian people, voting in favor of a UN resolution endorsing the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

Speaking after the vote, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said the decision reflected Pakistan’s “principled position” on Palestine, rooted in the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Ambassador Ahmad emphasized that Islamabad’s endorsement of the outcome document of the high-level international conference held in New York in July underlined its consistent commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

He strongly condemned what he described as “ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza,” noting that more than 64,000 people had been killed amid relentless bombardments. He said the destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure represented a grave violation of international humanitarian law.

“The continued expansion of illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a flagrant defiance of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions,” he said. “These actions not only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe but also undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.”

Calling Israeli actions “blatant violations” that threaten international peace and security across the Middle East, the ambassador urged accountability.

Pakistan also called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire across Gaza and all occupied Palestinian territories, along with full humanitarian access to the besieged population. “Lasting peace requires a credible political horizon — one grounded in international law. For this, the occupation must end, for that is the actual root cause of instability in the Middle East,” Ahmad stressed.

He welcomed the convening of the International Conference on the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, describing it as a “timely and necessary initiative” to generate renewed momentum toward Palestinian statehood. He urged coordinated international action to translate commitments into reality, ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Pakistan has consistently voiced strong support for the Palestinian cause at the UN and other international forums, framing it as a matter of justice, international law, and regional security.