What happened
During a United Nations General Assembly debate on the use of the veto, Pakistan warned against creating new permanent seats on the Security Council or extending veto privileges, according to Dawn. Speaking on behalf of the Pakistan Mission at the UN, counsellor Gul Qaiser Sarwani stated that expanding these privileges would deepen global inequalities, maintain historical advantages, and heighten the risk of council paralysis. (The specific date of the debate was not specified in the source; please check the official notice.)
Sarwani called for democratic and comprehensive reform of the Security Council, noting that strategic rivalries among permanent members frequently hinder collective international action on peace and security.
Key facts
- Pakistan explicitly opposes adding any new permanent members to an expanded Security Council.
- The delegate advocated for either the complete abolition of the veto or severe restrictions on its usage, ensuring any limitations remain consistent with the UN Charter.
- Pakistan reaffirmed its backing of General Assembly resolution 76/262, which provides for a General Assembly debate after a veto is exercised to improve accountability.
- Sarwani highlighted the universal membership of the General Assembly, arguing it possesses a unique legitimacy to act when the Security Council is paralyzed.
- Pakistan stressed that the veto issue must be resolved in tandem with four other reform clusters under the Intergovernmental Negotiations.
Why it matters
The discussions occur alongside broader warnings about global governance. According to Dawn, the UN's 'World Social Report 2026' noted that the veto power held by the Security Council's five permanent members has restricted multilateral efforts to prevent or halt state-based conflicts. This paralysis has led the UN Secretary-General to advocate for reforms, including member expansion to ensure fairer representation for underrepresented areas such as Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 27, 2026 · Photo by Uzair Waheed on Unsplash
