Pakistan has called for the abolition or strict limitation of veto power in the United Nations Security Council, warning that its misuse undermines the body’s effectiveness and contributes to institutional paralysis.
Addressing the 193-member UN General Assembly on Monday, Pakistani delegate Gul Qaiser Sarwani said meaningful reforms must address the veto power enjoyed by the five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom — to make the 15-member Council more effective, democratic and equitable.
“The misuse of the veto undermines the Security Council’s effectiveness and the credibility of the UN, while giving the permanent five unmatched influence throughout the UN system,” he said.
The General Assembly convened the meeting under Resolution 76/262, adopted in April 2022, which requires the Assembly to hold a debate within 10 working days whenever a veto is exercised in the Security Council.
During the debate, representatives renewed calls for restructuring the Council to strengthen its ability to fulfil its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.
Sarwani, a counsellor and political coordinator at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, cautioned against expanding the Council’s permanent membership, an issue central to the campaigns of India, Brazil, Germany and Japan for permanent seats.
He argued that adding more permanent members and extending veto privileges would deepen existing inequalities, perpetuate historical advantages, create new centres of power and increase the risk of institutional deadlock.
“Let us be clear: the problems cannot be the solution,” he said.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s position as a member of the Italy-led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, Sarwani said the group remained opposed to granting permanent seats to additional individual countries in an expanded Security Council.
“We believe that the veto should be abolished or at least severely restricted; it must not be expanded,” he said.
The Pakistani delegate expressed support for Resolution 76/262 but stressed that any measures aimed at restricting or regulating the use of the veto must remain consistent with the provisions of the UN Charter.
He said the veto’s power to block Council decisions could be better balanced by imposing restrictions on its use or strengthening the representation and role of elected members.
According to Gul Qaiser Sarwani, increasing the number of elected members and revising the threshold required for approving Council decisions could make the institution more democratic while providing an effective check on veto power.Opening the meeting, General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh said the Assembly had convened 21 meetings under the veto initiative, establishing it as an important mechanism for transparency, accountability and collective responsibility within the United Nations.
He commended the Security Council for submitting timely special reports to the General Assembly and acknowledged the participation of permanent members in discussions concerning the use of the veto.
Mr Rahman said humanity was best served when the General Assembly and Security Council operated in balance, with each fulfilling its distinct but complementary responsibilities under the UN Charter.Highlighting the consequences of Security Council inaction, he said the body’s effectiveness directly affected people living amid conflict, insecurity and humanitarian crises.
When the Council failed to act decisively, he observed, the consequences were borne primarily by those most affected by violence and instability.
“It is my hope that the Council will find the consensus needed to act decisively in the service of peace — and that the veto initiative will be needed less often,” he said.
He urged member states to ensure that debates on veto use did not become repetitive exercises but instead helped sustain meaningful diplomatic engagement.
“Let us reaffirm that no veto should bring an end to dialogue and diplomacy and that the principles of the Charter must continue to guide our collective search for peace,” Mr Rahman said.
During the subsequent debate, delegates highlighted the existing and potential consequences of veto power, particularly its impact on conflicts and humanitarian situations in regions far removed from where Security Council decisions are taken.
