UNITED NATIONS, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 28th Apr, 2026) Amid growing concerns over threats to shipping and freedom of navigation in global waterways, Pakistan has called for diplomacy and maritime cooperation to resolve the Strait of Hormuz crisis, citing its efforts to foster regional peace and stability.
“Any disruptions to the routine traffic at sea gravely impact international trade with negative repercussions for global economy, and breed volatility that imperils international peace and security,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council on Monday.
Speaking in a high-level debate on maritime security organized by Bahrain, which holds the 15-member Council’s presidency for April, he cited closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its cascading effects on food and energy security, and supply-chain disruption as a case in point.
Opening the debate, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on nations restricting ship movement through the Strait of Hormuz to “let the global economy breathe.”
“The economic shock has been immediate,” the UN chief said, stressing disruption of shipping has caused surging transport and insurance costs “in the worst supply chain disruption since COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine”.
In his comments, Ambassador Asim Ahmad, the Pakistani envoy, said if the crisis persisted developing countries would be most affected. That was because the first order impacts issues related to the procurement of oil and gas, and essential commodities such as fertilizers and their pricing trends, will increasingly translate into second and third order impacts on inflation, growth, current account and balance of payment issues.
“Most significantly, these developments have brought home the point that resilience of global governance architecture and strategic stability are now being tested by the safety and openness of maritime waterways,” he said.
“As a littoral state of the Indian Ocean Region with proximity to global maritime chokepoints and overwhelming reliance on sea-borne trade, Pakistan is fully cognizant of the paramount importance of safety and protection of global waterways.
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Like many developing countries from the region and beyond, he said Pakistan is concerned, and directly impacted by the closure of Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan, supported by China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt, Ambassador Asim Ahmad said has spearheaded diplomatic efforts for de-escalation and the broader pursuit of stability between the United States and Iran — a reference to Pakistani leadership’s mediatory role in promoting a peaceful settlement of the US-Israel war on Iran.
“In its ongoing efforts to facilitate an enduring resolution of this crisis, Pakistan remains firm in its faith in diplomacy and dialogue, and will continue to resolutely undertake all possible measures towards that end.”
Ambassador Asim Ahmad also called for protecting and promoting universally the legal order established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a most important pillars of international maritime order.
Earlier this year, Pakistan assumed the command of Combined Task Force 150 for conducting maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf to protect commercial shipping.
Last year, Pakistan also commanded CTF-151 tasked to suppress piracy and to ensure free flow of maritime trade.
“We have also launched our own Regional Maritime Security Patrols to ensure a safe and secure environment in the seas,” he said.
As a maritime State with “unwavering faith in international law and diplomacy”, Pakistan will continue to engage with the Security Council and with all like-minded countries for preserving hard-won gains in strengthening global governance — “both in the gentle tides of peace and amity and amid the rising storms of conflict and conflagration”.
“This is a sacred trust that history has placed upon us, and we cannot afford to fail,” the Pakistani envoy said.
