Liaquat Ali
Islamabad: Pakistan this week called for urgent international action to help Haiti confront escalating gang violence, urging the timely deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and stronger measures to prevent the flow of illicit weapons into the troubled Caribbean nation.
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Haiti, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, condemned the latest gang attack in Kenscoff and warned that the continuing violence demonstrated the fragile and prolonged security crisis confronting the Haitian population.
He said the latest assault was a grim reminder that Haiti’s security situation remained precarious, with armed gangs continuing to target civilians and inflict a disproportionate burden on women and children.
Pakistan stressed that the international community needed to address the logistical and operational difficulties that have slowed the deployment of the GSF, which was authorised by the Security Council to support Haitian authorities in restoring security.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar said the force needed to be deployed fully and in a timely manner if it was to effectively deter armed groups and help Haitian authorities regain control of areas affected by gang violence.
He also underlined the need to tackle one of the key factors sustaining the violence: the continued availability of illicit weapons.
According to Pakistan, efforts to restore security cannot succeed without a concerted international campaign to curb the illegal flow of arms into Haiti. Cutting off weapons supplies would reduce the capacity of armed groups to expand their territorial control and carry out attacks against civilians.
Beyond security operations
Pakistan argued that military and security measures alone would not provide a lasting solution to Haiti’s crisis.
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar called for stronger international cooperation to support the Haitian people and institutions, while stressing that a sustainable solution must address the deeper and multifaceted causes of instability.
He emphasised the importance of a Haitian-led and Haitian-owned political and security process, arguing that international assistance should strengthen national efforts rather than replace them.
Pakistan also took note of efforts by the Standing Group of Partners to mobilise additional support for the GSF and assist Haiti in developing a comprehensive disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) strategy.
Such a strategy is considered essential to addressing the entrenched role of armed groups and creating pathways for reducing violence over the longer term.
Haiti caught in prolonged crisis
Haiti has endured years of political instability, weak state institutions, economic hardship and escalating gang activity. Armed groups have expanded their influence in several parts of the country, while ordinary citizens have faced killings, displacement and disruption of essential services.
The continuing violence has also placed particular pressure on women and children, who are among the most vulnerable victims of insecurity.
The international community has sought to support Haitian authorities through a multinational security framework, but operational and logistical difficulties have complicated efforts to establish an effective force on the ground.
Pakistan’s call for faster deployment therefore comes amid growing concern that delays could allow armed groups to further consolidate their positions and deepen the humanitarian crisis.
Pakistan reaffirms solidarity
Pakistan reiterated its solidarity with the people of Haiti and said it remained committed to playing a constructive role in international and Haitian-led efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability.
Islamabad stressed that Haiti ultimately needs more than a security response. Lasting stability, it maintained, will require progress on governance, economic development, institution-building and the underlying causes that have allowed violence to become entrenched.
The Pakistani position at the Security Council reflects its broader emphasis on nationally owned solutions to conflicts, combined with effective international support.
As Haiti continues to confront armed gang violence and political and humanitarian pressures, Pakistan urged the international community to move beyond expressions of concern and provide the resources, logistical support and coordinated action necessary to help the country regain a measure of security and begin a sustainable path towards peace and development.
