United Nations, Dec 16 Pakistan has outlined its vision for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, calling for a strong, proactive, independent, and principled leader capable of addressing mounting global challenges.
Speaking during a UN Security Council debate on “Leadership for Peace,” Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said effective global leadership requires a secretary-general who can act decisively, proactively, and without fear or favor.
He noted that the second term of the current Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, will end next year and that the formal selection process is already under way in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 79/327, which stresses transparency and inclusivity.
Ambassador Asim Ahmad emphasized that Article 99 of the UN Charter, which empowers the secretary-general to bring threats to international peace and security to the Security Council’s attention, should be used as an early preventive mechanism rather than a last resort. He added that the next UN chief must strengthen all three pillars of the United Nations equally and exercise good offices proactively.
While setting high expectations for the secretary-general, he stressed that member states must also honor their own obligations, particularly the implementation of Security Council resolutions. He called on the Council to demonstrate greater consistency, credibility, and leadership, with stronger emphasis on conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding.
Addressing regional issues, the Pakistani envoy said Pakistan seeks peace and stability in South Asia, noting that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains one of the oldest unresolved issues on the Security Council’s agenda and requires a just settlement in line with UN resolutions and the will of the Kashmiri people. He also criticized India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, describing it as a violation of international obligations that threatens regional stability.
On UN reform, Ambassador Asim Ahmad opposed the addition of new permanent members to the Security Council, warning that such a move would further entrench paralysis. He endorsed the Italy-Pakistan-led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) proposal, which advocates expanded elected membership, enhanced regional representation, and greater accountability.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, also addressing the Council, warned that global conditions have deteriorated since he left office, citing intensifying great-power rivalries, weakening multilateralism, and ongoing conflicts. He attributed much of the crisis to the Security Council’s failure to function effectively, including the frequent use of vetoes.
Ban Ki-moon called for a single, non-renewable seven-year term for future secretaries-general to strengthen the independence of the office, warning that without meaningful reform, the United Nations risks becoming irrelevant.