ISLAMABAD: Three resolutions sponsored by Pakistan on arms control and international security were adopted by a United Nations committee. India and Israel were the only two countries to vote against a measure supported by 180 nations, the Pakistani mission to the UN said on Tuesday.
The measures, approved by the UN General Assembly’s First Committee, focus on conventional arms control, regional confidence‑building, and security assurances for non‑nuclear‑weapon states. The adoption took place amid heightened tensions in South Asia and the Middle East.
The resolution on conventional arms control at regional and subregional levels received 180 affirmative votes, with India and Israel casting the sole opposition votes. The other two Pakistan‑sponsored measures were also adopted: one was approved without a vote, and the other garnered 122 votes in favor and none against.
“The results underscore the international community’s continued backing of Pakistan’s long‑standing efforts on security assurances for non‑nuclear‑weapon states and on regional approaches to arms control and confidence‑building,” the Pakistani UN mission said in a statement posted on X.
The conventional arms‑control resolution calls for regional arrangements to address military imbalances and lower the risk of conflict. It emphasizes that states with larger military capabilities have a special responsibility to promote security agreements in their regions.
This principle is especially relevant for South Asia, where nuclear‑armed Pakistan and India have a history of confrontations, and for the Middle East, where ongoing hostilities have heightened concerns about military escalation and regional stability.
The First Committee also adopted Pakistan’s resolution titled “Confidence‑building measures in the regional and subregional context” without a vote.
A third resolution, “Conclusion of effective international arrangements to assure non‑nuclear‑weapon States against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons,” was approved by 122 votes, with no votes against.
The measure aims to strengthen international guarantees for countries lacking nuclear weapons, addressing their vulnerability to nuclear threats and the absence of universally binding security assurances.
Pakistan’s mission noted that the country “has, for decades, led initiatives at the United Nations to advance priority issues of conventional arms control, confidence‑building measures, and regional disarmament.”
These votes come as conflicts in the Middle East and tensions in other regions have revived concerns about the effectiveness of existing arms‑control frameworks and the capacity of international institutions to prevent military escalation.
“At a time of heightened tensions and eroding arms‑control architecture, these resolutions offer practical, cooperative paths to reduce risks, build trust, and promote international and regional peace and stability,” the mission added.
The First Committee, which handles disarmament and international security, reviews draft resolutions before they proceed to the full General Assembly for final adoption.
While General Assembly resolutions are generally not legally binding, they help shape international norms and provide a foundation for further negotiations on disarmament, security assurances, and regional arms control.
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