SOURCE: UNI
Pakistan has expressed its concern over the “generous” supply of conventional weapons to “one state” in South Asia an obvious reference to India, saying it was fueling instability and jeopardizing the delicate balance in the tension-ridden region.
Gul Qaiser, a counsellor at Pakistan’s UN mission, raised the issue during a United Nations General Assembly debate on conventional weapons, urging the international community to consider the destabilising impact of arms transfers in volatile regions.
Addressing the Disarmament and International Security Committee, Qaiser argued that in a world beset by conflict, certain nations are prioritising military financing over peace initiatives. This, he noted, challenges peace-building efforts when collaboration is needed most.
Referring to the limited effectiveness of initiatives like the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), he highlighted that advanced weaponry continues to flood conflict-prone areas, often worsening disputes and contributing to atrocities, including genocides.
“In South Asia, one state is being supplied with advanced weapons and sensitive technologies, leading to destabilising accumulations,” said Qaiser, citing the nation’s defiance of UN Security Council resolutions and hostile policies toward neighbouring countries.
He underscored Pakistan’s commitment to establishing a strategic restraint regime in South Asia, advocating for a balanced conventional force approach.
He stated that “Pakistan neither wants, nor is engaged in, an arms race in the region,” and called for addressing the root causes fueling the arms trade rather than merely managing its effects.