United Nations, October 27,2026: Pakistan has called for comprehensive, democratic and equitable reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), warning that the misuse of veto power undermines the council’s effectiveness, erodes the credibility of the United Nations and perpetuates inequalities in the international system.
Speaking during a UN General Assembly debate on the use of the veto, Gul Qaiser Sarwani, Counsellor and Political Coordinator at Pakistan’s Mission to the UN, said strategic rivalries and narrow interests among permanent members had repeatedly obstructed collective action on international peace and security.
He highlighted the General Assembly’s unique legitimacy, noting that its universal membership and democratic decision-making enabled it to respond when the Security Council was unable to act, including due to the exercise of veto power.
Sarwani cautioned that adding more permanent members and extending veto privileges would deepen existing inequalities, perpetuate historical advantages and increase the risk of paralysis within the council.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s position alongside the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, he opposed the creation of new permanent seats in an expanded Security Council.
On proposals to regulate veto power, the Pakistani delegate said Islamabad favoured its abolition or, at a minimum, severe restrictions on its use, emphasising that veto privileges must not be extended further.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for UN General Assembly Resolution 76/262, which provides for a General Assembly debate following the exercise of a veto to strengthen accountability.
Sarwani stressed that any measures to restrict the use of veto power must remain consistent with the UN Charter.
He called for a balanced reform approach combining restrictions on the veto with enhanced representation and a stronger role for elected members of the Security Council. Such measures, he said, would make the council’s decision-making more democratic and provide an effective check on the exercise of veto power.
The Pakistani representative further emphasised that the veto issue must be addressed alongside the other four interrelated clusters under the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform as part of a comprehensive reform package.
Concluding his remarks, Sarwani reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to reforms aimed at correcting existing imbalances, strengthening accountability and serving the collective interests of the entire UN membership rather than those of a select few.
“Reform for all. Privilege for None!” he emphasised.
