UNITED NATIONS: During a UN General Assembly debate on Monday, Pakistan emphasised the need for collective action to eliminate the possibility of weaponising outer space.

At a debate on the use of veto on an outer space resolution, Pakistan warned the international community that threats to security in and from outer space have escalated sharply in recent years.

Pakistan, however, took a stance that favours preventing major powers from weaponising outer space without getting involved in the ongoing debate between the United States and Russia over this issue.

The Pakistani envoy to the UN warned that the placement of weapons in space has made it evident that outer space was being prepared as “the next war-fighting frontier in the military policies and doctrines of major powers”.

Ambassador Munir Akram told the General Assembly Pakistan “maintains a principled position that resolutions on global disarmament issues should be deliberated and concluded in an inclusive and transparent manner at the appropriate forums”.

He identified the Conference on Disarmament, UN Disarmament Commission, and the First Committee of the General Assembly as the right forums for debating the issue.

The General Assembly met on Monday to debate Russia’s recent veto of a resolution that would have called upon countries to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space.

Last month, Russia vetoed a draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council that would have called on countries to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space.

The resolution, prepared by Japan and the US, would have affirmed the obligation of countries to comply with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bars placing in space any objects carrying nuclear or other kinds of weapons of mass destruction.

Russian veto

Russia vetoed the resolution, while China abstained from voting. The other 13 members, including the US, voted in favour.

Russia said it vetoed the resolution because it only specified nuclear weapons be prohibited from space rather than all weapons, as Moscow wants.

Robert Wood, the US ambassador and deputy permanent representative, however, accused Russia of concealing its “true intentions” by pushing to change the resolution’s language.

In his statement, Ambassador Akram underscored the gravity of the situation, citing the proliferation of weapons in space and the increasing militarisation of outer space by major powers. He expressed concern over the deployment of missile defence systems and their integration with outer space technologies, warning of the destabilising impact on global and regional security.

“If nuclear weapons are deployed in outer space, this would indeed constitute a violation of the Outer Space Treaty. But we are told that the information available regarding the alleged deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space does not indicate an imminent deployment of such weapons,” he said.

“Thus, there is time to establish the veracity of this information and avert any move to deploy such weapons in outer space,” he added.

Ambassador Akram, however, said the draft resolution recognised the importance of preventing an arms race in outer space and upholding the Outer Space Treaty. But he emphasised the need for multilateral cooperation, particularly within the Conference on Disarmament, to address the growing threats posed by weaponisation of outer space.

Addressing concerns about the alleged deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space, Ambassador Akram called for verification and transparency mechanisms to avert any potential violation of international treaties. He stressed Pakistan’s commitment to promoting inclusive and transparent deliberations on global disarmament issues within appropriate forums.

“Pakistan advocates a comprehensive approach with a dual focus on both capabilities and behaviour. We have consistently advocated urgent negotiations on a legally binding instrument on Prevention of Arms Race in Outer Space,’’ he said.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2024