United Nations (TDI): Pakistan reiterated its commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons while raising alarms about the increasing challenges to international disarmament efforts.
Addressing the UN General Assembly’s First Committee, which focuses on disarmament and global security, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Pakistan’s acting permanent representative to the UN, highlighted the regression in global disarmament initiatives and the rising risks of nuclear escalation.
Ambassador Jadoon pointed out the growing role of nuclear weapons in military strategies and the modernization of nuclear arsenals, which, according to him, exacerbates the risk of conflict. He also referenced the unsafeguarded expansion of nuclear stockpiles, singling out India’s nuclear activities as an example of such actions.
Additionally, he noted the growing weaponization of emerging technologies that blur the distinction between conventional and nuclear weaponry, intensifying the likelihood of miscalculations.
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The Pakistani envoy also expressed concern over the selective arms control measures promoted by some countries with large nuclear stockpiles. These measures, Jadoon argued, fail to address existing imbalances in nuclear capabilities, with some nations pushing for proposals that neglect the reality of global nuclear disparities.
“Certain states with extensive fissile material stocks are advocating for partial, cost-free measures, like focusing solely on a cut-off, without acknowledging the existing imbalances,” he explained.
Another critical point raised by Pakistan was the erosion of the global non-proliferation framework, driven by discriminatory waivers and selective safeguards, particularly regarding the transfer of nuclear technology.
This was especially pertinent to India, which has benefitted from international nuclear agreements since the 2008 Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) waiver, granting it access to nuclear technology and fuel despite its non-signatory status to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Pakistan has consistently criticized such agreements, arguing that they have allowed India to break its nuclear isolation.
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Ambassador Jadoon warned that India’s growing nuclear capabilities, including expanding stockpiles and enhancing the operational readiness of its arsenal, pose a significant threat to regional stability. He further highlighted India’s deployment of dual-capable delivery systems as a destabilizing factor, describing it as an irresponsible action that worsens the region’s security situation.
