At the United Nations, Pakistan has welcomed Syria's recent cooperation with global chemical weapons monitors but stressed that independent verification is crucial to permanently eliminate its stockpile. The call was made during a UN Security Council debate on Syria's unresolved chemical weapons file.
Pakistan's Stance on Verification and Support
Addressing the 15-member Council on Thursday, Pakistan's Acting Permanent Representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, acknowledged the collaboration between Damascus and the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
He emphasized that this cooperation must be in full compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and relevant Security Council resolutions to close this file swiftly.
Ambassador Jadoon pointed out a critical gap highlighted by the OPCW Secretariat: the difference between what Syria is required to provide and its actual capacity. "Continued international support to Syria and the Technical Secretariat, therefore, remains critically important," he stated, urging the world to help bridge this divide.
A Balanced Position: Sovereignty and Security
While pushing for disarmament, the Pakistani envoy firmly backed Syria's political integrity. Pakistan supports Syria's unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, seeing them as foundational for lasting peace. He also endorsed an inclusive political process owned and led by Syrians themselves.
Jadoon connected Syria's security challenges directly to the disarmament process. He noted that Israel's military occupation of parts of Syria and its repeated strikes on Syrian sites have severely impacted the security situation. These actions, he argued, have also obstructed the technical work of the OPCW inspection teams.
The OPCW's Challenge and a Critical Opportunity
The Council meeting heard from UN disarmament official Adedeji Ebo, who outlined the scale of the challenge. He revealed that since 2014, the OPCW has been unable to verify the completeness of Syria's initial chemical weapons declaration.
The current Syrian government is now working with inspectors to clarify the full scope of the old program. This involves investigating over 100 additional sites beyond the 26 originally declared, with some locations situated in dangerous zones, posing risks to inspectors.
Ebo described the present cooperation as "commendable" and a "critical opportunity" to finally get answers and eliminate all chemical weapons. He called on the Security Council to show leadership and ensure sustained international support for this effort.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Jadoon reaffirmed Pakistan's unwavering principle: Islamabad opposes the use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, and under any circumstances. He appreciated Syria's stated commitment to fully implement the CWC and secure suspected weapons sites, underscoring the need for verifiable action to achieve a world free of these banned arms.
