Major realignments, geostrategic and geoeconomic flux, increasing Sino-U.S. competition, rising tensions in the South China Sea, China-India standoff in the Himalayas, Pakistan-India rift, unresolved Kashmir issue for seven decades, Ukraine war, food insecurity, and climate change repercussions now manifesting themselves, particularly in Pakistan, ongoing issues in Afghanistan, and the prospects of the global economy showing recession signs, among others, are some of the issues that the world is facing today. Despite repeated claims to believe in multilateralism, these are universal concerns that must be resolved if the UN continues to exist and fulfils its established purposes.
Pakistan has a strong commitment to multilateralism and has consistently contributed to all facets and divisions of the UN, including the UN Peacekeeping Missions, where Pakistan has one of the largest contingents and is respected by the world community. The state leaders of Pakistan usually set aside time to attend all important conferences and events, in addition to the UNGA. It gives governments the chance to actively advocate and present their point of view to the whole globe on the most prestigious political and security platform, despite its drawbacks and restrictions.
UNGA 77 was significant for Pakistan in part because of the destruction wrought by the greatest floods in recent memory, which were brought on by climate change. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led a high-level delegation from Pakistan that did a fantastic job of representing the country. The biblical flood that destroyed everything in its path, broke centuries-old weather records and pushed the capacity of the government, concerned departments, NGOs, and citizens to their limits were the scale and magnitude of the climate catastrophe that has forced one-third of the country under water.
Women and children were among the approximately 33 million people who were uprooted and left to spend their days under open skies, completely at the whim of the wrathful elements. They are now more susceptible to health risks as a result of hunger and malnutrition. Numerous people keep searching for dry ground despite tragic losses to their families, futures, and means of support. In addition to hundreds of kilometres of highways being entirely wiped away, over 200 bridges were destroyed. The situation needs international assistance to reconstruct and restore not just the people but also the agricultural land that has been damaged and rendered unusable for future crops.
As the current disaster has not been caused by Pakistan in any way, it was gratifying to see Pakistan make an impassioned argument for climate change compensation. According to the PM, “our woods are burning, our glaciers are melting quickly, and our heat waves have reached 53°C, making us the hottest spot on Earth.” “What occurred in Pakistan will not stay in Pakistan,” he said. Even while hotspots like Pakistan are among the ten most climate-vulnerable nations, they only produce 1% of the greenhouse emissions that are destroying the world. All of Pakistan’s resources have been mobilised for national relief operations, and all budget priorities have been redirected to help millions of displaced people. Global inaction and climate injustice are harming the country’s economy and populace. He stated, “There will be no planet to fight conflicts over unless the world leaders act quickly,” which was a devastating statement.
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The UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s emphasis on the effects of climate change on vulnerable countries—with Pakistan as a case in point—and what can be done about it helped increase the spotlight on both climate change and Pakistan’s misery as a result of the devastating floods. He attacked the fossil fuel sector in the West for earning unanticipated profits and demanded that these gains be taxed and that the money goes to nations suffering because of the climate problem. He emphasised that the G20 accounts for 80% of global carbon output. On the other hand, while contributing less than 1% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan is the seventh most vulnerable nation to climate change and is now suffering from its effects. Because of this, Pakistan is leading a “developing country initiative” to raise money for nations affected by climate-related calamities.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the foreign minister of Pakistan, emphasised the importance of making a swift, coordinated effort to rebuild better and more climate resiliently. In the context of the upcoming 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference, he suggested a variety of initiatives for tackling the issue of climate change at the global level (CoP-27). He demanded a “Green Marshal Plan” to help and support the most climate-vulnerable nations, stressing the need to mobilise $1 trillion annually as an investment in sustainable infrastructure; fulfil industrial countries’ commitment to providing $100 billion or more in climate finance each year; align the international trade system to support the achievement of the SDGs; introduce a fair international tax system, and grant developing nations preferential access.
The UNGA 77 gave us the chance to draw attention to some of our other top concerns and urgent priorities, such as the need for rapid economic growth to help millions of people escape poverty and hunger; a stable external environment; and sustainable peace and stability in South Asia, all of which are prerequisites for a fair and long-lasting resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir conflict. The Prime Minister warned that India’s illegal and unilateral actions on August 5, 2019, to change the internationally recognised “disputed” status of Jammu and Kashmir and to change the demographic makeup of the occupied territory had further harmed chances for peace and heightened tensions in the region. He described India’s further activities and asked India to make sincere efforts to foster positive dialogue. The Secretary-General has requested $4.2 billion in humanitarian and economic help, and he also said that Pakistan has been at the forefront of humanitarian operations in Afghanistan. He encouraged the international community to react to this request and unlock Afghanistan’s financial reserves.
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The official-sponsored campaign of discrimination against India’s more than 200 million Muslims, which was the worst example of Islamophobia, was brought to the world’s attention by Pakistan. Mr Sharif expressed hope that the Assembly’s historic resolution designating March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, passed earlier this year, will result in concrete steps to advance interfaith peace. He voiced worry about the multiple crises occurring in the Middle East, including those in Syria and Yemen, and he urged Israel to immediately stop using violent means against the Palestinian people. He advocated for the appointment of 11 additional non-permanent members to the Security Council to reform it and make it more reflective of the global community.
It was refreshing to hear President Biden say, “We do not desire confrontation” on the world stage. A Cold War is not what we want. No country is required to choose between the United States and any other partner, according to us. The US will “act itself as a responsible leader” in “handling altering geopolitical trends,” he further pledged, while also restating his nation’s adherence to the “One-China policy.” This would undoubtedly ease the world’s nerves, which were on edge in the face of an escalating conflict and strong language coming from both China and the US, especially about the issues of Taiwan and Xinjiang. Although subsequent US announcements, such as the unveiling of a billion-dollar armaments package for Taiwan and new restrictions on US exports of semiconductor technology to Chinese enterprises, which were vehemently criticised by China, have not repeated this balanced stance. The US had already reaffirmed that, in the event of an assault, it would protect Taiwan “militarily.” Beijing reacted furiously to this as well.
