Summary UNSC encouraged individual UN member states to pursue mediation and diplomatic initiatives to ease tensions and help transform armed confrontations into peaceful resolutions
(Dunya News) - The United Nations Security Council has adopted a Pakistan-initiated presidential statement urging countries to continue diplomatic efforts even after armed conflicts break out, stressing the need for ceasefires, de-escalation and lasting political solutions.
Titled “The Role of Diplomacy during Active Hostilities”, the statement highlights the importance of diplomatic engagement in protecting civilians, containing violence, preventing conflicts from spreading and ensuring humanitarian assistance during wars.
It calls on countries to use mediation, good offices and direct or indirect communication between conflicting parties to ease tensions and create opportunities for negotiations, even while military operations are underway.
Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Syed Haider Shah, welcomed the adoption, describing it as a significant contribution to international efforts aimed at resolving conflicts peacefully.
“The message of this Presidential Statement is both simple and powerful: Diplomacy must not end when hostilities begin. Indeed, it becomes even more indispensable,” he said during a press stakeout following the adoption.
The statement was adopted under the November presidency of Latvia's Ambassador Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, who is currently chairing the Security Council.
The Pakistani initiative builds on UN Security Council Resolution 2788, unanimously adopted during Pakistan's presidency of the Council in July 2025, which reaffirmed the importance of peacefully resolving international disputes in accordance with the UN Charter.
While the earlier resolution focused on the peaceful settlement of disputes, the latest statement specifically addresses the need to maintain diplomatic engagement after armed confrontations have begun, when communication between opposing sides often breaks down and the risk of escalation rises.
The Security Council stressed the importance of keeping communication channels open between conflicting parties, either directly or through intermediaries, to prevent miscalculations, reduce tensions and facilitate political negotiations.
It also identified key objectives of diplomacy during active hostilities, including securing ceasefires, ensuring safe and unhindered humanitarian access, protecting civilians and preventing conflicts from expanding into regional or international confrontations.
The statement further underlined that a ceasefire should not mark the end of diplomatic efforts, emphasising the need for continued political engagement to achieve a durable settlement.
It also encouraged individual UN member states to pursue mediation and diplomatic initiatives to ease tensions and help transform armed confrontations into peaceful resolutions.
The Council recognised the role of regional and subregional organisations in conflict resolution, welcoming efforts to strengthen their mediation capacities and encouraging closer cooperation with the United Nations.
It also highlighted the role of the UN secretary-general, his representatives, special envoys and mediators in promoting dialogue and facilitating peaceful settlements before and during armed conflicts.
The statement reaffirmed that all diplomatic initiatives must remain consistent with the UN Charter, international law and relevant Security Council resolutions. It also acknowledged the role of other UN bodies, including the International Court of Justice, in peacefully resolving disputes where states have accepted its jurisdiction.
Ambassador Haider Shah said the adoption brought together the Security Council's experience in addressing individual conflicts under a common framework, providing a political reference point for diplomatic initiatives in ongoing and future conflicts.
He said the initiative reflected Pakistan's commitment to multilateralism, dialogue and the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
The Security Council also called on the UN secretary-general to continue promoting diplomacy, mediation and peaceful dispute resolution and to keep the Council informed, as appropriate, about related efforts.
