United Nations, July 02, 2025(Kamran Raja): Pakistan has expressed its deep concern on Haiti’s rapid slide into chaos, which is marked by rampant gang violence, unchecked vigilantism, and a worsening humanitarian situation.
Delivering a national statement during the United Nations Security Council briefing on Haiti, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN and the President of the Security Council for the month of July, underlined the need for immediate action by the Council.
“The Council has discussed Haiti’s plight time and again but words alone will not stop the bloodshed or feed the starving. The time for half-measures is over. We must act — decisively, collectively, and now — before Haiti’s suffering becomes irreversible,” he said.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said that the gangs’ stranglehold has turned Haiti’s streets into battlegrounds. He said that vigilante killings are on the rise, children are being recruited by armed groups, and the economic collapse and breakdown of basic services has subjected hundreds of thousands of Haitians to live in fear and face acute food shortages.
He outlined four key points to restore peace and stability in Haiti:
• Haiti’s government must be empowered to regain control; gangs must not be allowed to dominate the country.
• Lasting stability requires national consensus and responsible leadership through a Haitian-led recovery process.
• The Multinational Security Support Mission must be strong and well-funded, while also helping to build Haiti’s long-term policing and governance capacity.
• Regional bodies like OAS and CARICOM are important, but the UN Security Council holds the main responsibility to act decisively to stabilize Haiti
The Pakistan UN Ambassador said that it is evident that besides the political and security issues, Haiti’s challenges also include underlying longstanding socio-economic and development issues that necessitate a holistic approach for durable peace and stability in Haiti.
He expressed Pakistan’s readiness to play its part in forging consensus within the Council — including on the Secretary-General’s recommendations — to help deliver security and hope to the people of Haiti.
“The people of Haiti deserve to live in peace and dignity, free from fear and want. Collective, courageous, and timely action is needed now,” he emphasized.