Pakistan has urged the United Nations to make mediation the primary instrument of conflict prevention rather than treating it as a reactive tool used only after violence erupts. Speaking during a UN General Debate on strengthening mediation in peaceful dispute resolution, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, emphasized that early diplomatic engagement is essential to prevent crises from escalating into full-scale conflicts. He stated that peaceful settlement of disputes remains a core principle of Pakistan’s foreign policy and aligns with obligations under the UN Charter. According to him, the effectiveness of international peace efforts should be measured not only by post-conflict responses but by proactive prevention of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. The ambassador described mediation as a crucial bridge between confrontation and peace, stressing the need to strengthen early warning systems, preventive diplomacy, and the use of the UN Secretary-General’s good offices under Chapter VI of the UN Charter. He also referenced UN Security Council Resolution 2788, adopted in July 2025, which supports greater use of mediation mechanisms and cooperation between the UN and regional organisations. Pakistan also highlighted its diplomatic engagement with multiple regional stakeholders, including Iran, Gulf states, and the United States, in efforts to promote regional stability. In a separate UNSC emergency session on Lebanon, Ambassador Ahmad warned of worsening humanitarian conditions, stating that around 2,000 square kilometres of Lebanese territory were under what he described as illegal occupation. He highlighted large-scale civilian displacement, casualties, and ongoing violence, noting that over one million people have been displaced and thousands killed or injured since March. Pakistan urged stronger international attention to the crisis and stressed that unresolved conflicts continue to cause severe human suffering and regional instability.