In a rare diplomatic achievement, Pakistan has garnered United Nations First Committee approval for four critical disarmament resolutions, underscoring its position as a committed advocate for global peace and stability. Among these resolutions is one advocating for confidence-building measures in regional contexts, alongside another aimed at controlling conventional arms at both regional and sub-regional levels. The most notable victory, however, is the endorsement of Pakistan’s call for substantial international measures to protect non-nuclear states from the looming threat posed by nuclear-armed nations.
These resolutions reflect Pakistan’s enduring dedication to fostering peace and promoting non-proliferation—a commitment that has remained unwavering, even as regional tensions have necessitated strategic postures that place Pakistan at the center of a complex arms competition. For years, Pakistan has voiced its concerns against nuclear escalation and the unchecked spread of conventional weaponry, emphasizing that true security can only be achieved through mutual restraint. Yet, faced with India’s rapid arms expansion and a regional balance that often feels precarious, Pakistan has found itself in a defensive stance, navigating a challenging line between advocating disarmament and securing its own national survival.
The approval of these resolutions, while a commendable step toward disarmament, is merely a starting point in what will be a challenging path. The fate of previous disarmament efforts serves as a sobering reminder of how easily ambitious international goals can falter without genuine enforcement mechanisms. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), a once-promising endeavor to curb nuclear arms development, has largely become a hollow symbol as powerful states continue to refine and trade nuclear technologies with impunity. Such unchecked transactions have enabled countries like India and Israel to amass sophisticated arsenals, often at the expense of regional stability, directly undermining the disarmament principles championed by treaties like the CTBT.
Similarly, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a foundational element of global anti-nuclear policy, now stands diminished. Designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, the NPT’s effectiveness has been eroded by the very powers that ought to lead by example. As these countries continue to selectively enforce sanctions and allow their allies to expand nuclear capabilities, the treaty’s purpose is diluted, creating a dual reality in which smaller nations are penalized for nuclear aspirations while larger states are left free to perpetuate the arms race. This selective enforcement not only undermines the NPT but also entrenches distrust, reinforcing a cycle of armament as states perceive compliance as a potential vulnerability.
For Pakistan’s resolutions to move beyond commendation and diplomatic applause, the international community must engage in pragmatic action to dismantle these entrenched double standards. Diplomats may celebrate Pakistan’s achievements, but the applause in UN corridors will be empty without tangible commitments from major powers to enforce these resolutions and genuinely adhere to disarmament treaties. This requires a shift from symbolic support to actual accountability: nuclear-armed states must commit to reducing their arsenals and engage with treaties like the CTBT and NPT as real vehicles for change rather than diplomatic tools of convenience.
The cycle of distrust and competition fueling the global arms race will not be broken by lofty ideals alone. True peace and stability demand that international powers take bold, consistent action to reduce the stockpiles that threaten us all. Only with a genuine commitment to fairness and transparency can the world take meaningful steps towards the disarmament goals embodied in Pakistan’s UN-backed resolutions. If these resolutions are to offer more than temporary hope, they must herald an era where principles finally transcend power, reshaping the arms landscape with integrity and purpose.
