• Says ‘cycle of violence must end’ for regional stability; asks global partners to back urgent diplomatic push
• UN chief warns escalation may tip into ‘full war’

UNITED NATIONS: With the Middle East witnessing the most intense exchange of fire between the US and Iran since the April ceasefire, Pakistan has appe­aled to all sides on Wednes­day to exercise restraint and “give peace a little more chance”.

Speaking at the UN Secu­rity Council, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad underscored the need for diplomacy as Washington and Tehran locked into renewed hostilities after the downing of a US Apache helicopter by Iranian forces over the Strait of Hormuz and US strikes on Iranian soil.

Ambassador Ahmad noted that Pakistan, alongside its partners, has made sincere efforts to break the momentum of hostilities, save lives and give diplomacy a chance. “As we work earnestly and painstakingly, together with our friends and partners, to find a peaceful diplomatic solution to the conflict, and especially when the final objective is just about to be achieved, we sincerely urge all sides to exercise restraint,” he said.

The envoy warned Mideast violence was a stark reminder of the tenuous ceasefire’s unbearable consequences, noting that the breakdown of diplomacy also pushed parties further apart on the Iran nuclear issue. “The cycle of violence and instability must end for the good of regional and international peace, security and prosperity,” he said.

Regarding mediation efforts, Ambassador Ahmad appreciated both parties for trusting Islamabad and participating in the Islamabad Talks, the highest-level direct engagement between the US and Iran in over four decades.

“Through sustained interaction at the leadership level with both Washington and Te­­hran, as well as with other partners in the region and be­­yond, notably Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkiye, Qatar and China, Islamabad has sought to encourage dialogue, facilitate the exchange of messages, and help create space and conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations,” he said.

He said the approach und­erscores Pakistan’s consiste­nt commitment to regional stability, reflecting a preference for principled, dialogue-oriented diplomacy in managing complex disputes. “So let us continue to tread the path of peace and diplomacy, for it has bright prospects of success, something that the international community has pinned its hopes on,” he added.

Return to ‘full war’

Also, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the risk of returning to a “full war” after the traded strikes further strained the sporadic truce.

“We should not minimise the risks of a lesser fire beco­ming full fire, or in another word, full war,” the secretary general said at the UNSC meeting on the Middle East.

In Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was horrified by the fact that we see escalation upon escalation. “We are always very relieved when ceasefires are announced, but ceasefires need to be respected in full. International law needs to be respected in full,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026