Pakistan and Israel engaged in a heated exchange at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) following Israel’s recent airstrike in Doha. Pakistan condemned the attack as “illegal, unprovoked, and destabilising,” accusing Tel Aviv of deliberately undermining ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
At the emergency meeting, requested by Pakistan, Algeria, and Somalia, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, strongly criticised Israel for targeting a residential neighbourhood in Qatar, calling it a grave violation of sovereignty and international humanitarian law. He argued that striking a mediator state during delicate peace talks was an attempt to sabotage diplomacy and prolong civilian suffering.
Israel’s ambassador defended the strike by comparing it to the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, insisting that Hamas leaders could not be given safe havens. Pakistan rejected the analogy as “unacceptable and ludicrous,” stressing that Israel was attempting to deflect responsibility from its own breaches of sovereignty and international law.
Qatar also denounced the attack, labelling it a violation of its sovereignty and a direct assault on mediation efforts. Several UNSC members, including France, the UK, and China, echoed concerns, warning that the strike threatened regional stability. The US also cautioned that unilateral bombing inside Qatar would not serve long-term peace.
The UNSC session concluded with a collective call for de-escalation, protection of civilians, and renewed support for Qatar’s mediation role. For Pakistan, the meeting provided a platform to highlight its solidarity with Qatar and reaffirm its commitment to international law and regional peace.
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