United Nations (TDI): Pakistan has called on the United Nations Security Council to act in unity to help bring an end to Yemen’s prolonged conflict, warning that lasting instability in the country threatens wider regional peace.
Addressing the 15-member Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stressed that a stable and unified Yemen is vital not only for its people but also for regional security. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing that any political efforts must safeguard national cohesion and state institutions.
Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since 2014, when fighting erupted between government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels, formally known as Ansar Allah. While the internationally recognized government operates largely from Aden, the Houthis control the capital Sana’a and significant parts of the north and west. Although a UN-brokered truce in April 2022 reduced large-scale violence, the country remains trapped in a complex political, security and humanitarian crisis.
Welcoming recent Saudi-facilitated consultations in Riyadh, Ambassador Ahmad urged all Yemeni parties to engage constructively and in good faith. He underscored that an inclusive and forward-looking dialogue remains the only realistic path to a negotiated political settlement that reflects the aspirations of the Yemeni people. He also welcomed the formation of a new cabinet under the Presidential Leadership Council, expressing hope that it would strengthen governance and improve service delivery.
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Pakistan reiterated its support for a Yemeni-owned and Yemeni-led political process under UN facilitation. In that regard, Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, told the Council that while there have been modest improvements in government-controlled areas, including better electricity supply and payment of public sector salaries, only a revived political process can end the long-running conflict.
He warned that rising regional tensions risk pulling Yemen back into broader confrontation and called on Council members to remain united in backing diplomatic efforts.
Ambassador Ahmad also highlighted the dire humanitarian situation, noting that nearly 19 million Yemenis require urgent assistance. With fewer than two-thirds of schools functioning and only about half of health facilities operational, he urged the international community to address funding gaps to sustain life-saving operations.
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He strongly condemned the continued detention of UN and humanitarian personnel in Houthi-controlled areas and the seizure of UN facilities, describing such actions as violations of international law. He called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained staff and full respect for UN privileges and immunities.
Pakistan’s appeal reflects growing concern that without coordinated international action and a renewed political push, Yemen’s fragile stability could unravel further, deepening both humanitarian suffering and regional insecurity.
