United Nations – Ambassador Asim Ahmad, the Permanent Representative of Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), made a rare direct and aggressive diplomatic request to be called upon a second time so he could deliver a forceful attack against Israel.
The action was a reaction to what the mission of Pakistan viewed as a false analogy by the Israeli envoy on the issue of Al-Qaeda and Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism.
The words of the statement of the ambassador Ahmad were unyielding, and he demolished the narrative of the representative of Israel with a set of concise counterarguments.
He started by blaming Israel directly and said, “Israel, like all occupiers, despite being the aggressor, feigns and plays the victim.”
This outright confrontation established the mood of the entire address because he went on to present the fundamentals of grievances that Pakistan had over the occupying power.
He highlighted the open defiance of international law and UN authority by Israel. The ambassador pointed out that Israel is not willing to leave its unlawful occupation, and it overtly defies the resolutions of this Council.
The statement placed Israel not as a partner who wanted to find a peaceful solution but as a rogue state that was sabotaging the principles of the UN.
A Defiant Stance Against a Rogue State
Ambassador Ahmad was not subtle in calling Israel “an irresponsible rogue state that is, in fact, the perpetrator of the worst kind of state terrorism that we are witnessing in Gaza and, in fact, in the occupied Palestinian territories for decades.”
This was an audacious charge, far more bold than usual diplomatic rhetoric, and it defined the actions of the Israelis in the occupied territories as a systematic terror campaign.
The ambassador also made an emphasis on the impunity of Israel, as he claimed that “it doesn’t listen to the ICJ or the ICC, and threatens the UN and its senior officials.” He blamed this rebellion on the “shielded by its apologists, who time and again acquiesce in its illegal actions and defiance of the international community.”
Over the last two years, Pakistan has arguably been the only Muslim state who have been confronting Israel in such an open and direct way on the most significant diplomatic platforms in the world.
This is not just apparent in what he says but also in his mannerisms. His body language, as seen in the video, and direct eye contact with the Israeli representative were apparent indications of resistance to an oppressor and aggressor.
Pakistan’s Pro-Palestine Diplomacy
The diplomatic aggressive position, adopted by Ambassador Ahmad, highlights the unwavering commitment of Pakistan to the Palestinian people and their struggle for self-determination.
The Pakistani government has been an old advocate of the cause, but the new, more aggressive style is indicative of a rising impatience with what it deems an inability of the international community to hold Israel responsible.
The bold and assertive position by the mission of Pakistan in New York is a powerful message that the country will not shy away from confronting injustice, regardless of the political cost.
