ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmed this week condemned the recent attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, calling for the protection of navigation routes and greater maritime cooperation worldwide.

Ahmed was speaking at the UN Security Council open debate on ‘Maritime Security: Prevention, Innovation, and International Cooperation to Address Emerging Challenges’ on Monday. During the meeting, the Red Sea attacks from last month came under discussion. Washington accused Iran of fueling maritime insecurity in the Red Sea by supplying weapons and other materials to the Houthis.

Washington’s acting ambassador, Dorothy Shea, condemned the Houthis for the recent attacks in the Red Sea that resulted in the sinking of two commercial ships, the deaths of crew members and the taking of hostages.

According to international news agency Reuters, Houthis have targeted more than 100 merchant ships traveling through the Red Sea since November 2023, sinking four vessels, seizing another and killing at least eight sailors.

“Attacks on commercial shipping undermine maritime security and global trade,” Ahmed said at the debate. “We condemn such acts, including the recent Red Sea incidents, and support the Secretary-General’s call for restraint, and protection of navigation routes.”

The Pakistani envoy said, without naming any countries, that attempts to dominate maritime spaces or marginalize coastal states must be rejected, labeling them as “counterproductive.” He said oceans must remain zones of peace, prosperity, and inclusive development.

Ahmed said Pakistan regards the Arabian Sea as its “fifth neighbor“— a cornerstone of the country’s economic ambition and strategic horizon.

“Positioned at the junction of vital sea lanes, Pakistan is uniquely placed to serve as a premier trans-shipment hub and the primary gateway linking the landlocked heart of Central Asia with the global trading system,” he added.

The Pakistani envoy pointed out that Islamabad remains a longstanding, active contributor to international maritime security. He said the country’s navy participates in the Combined Maritime Forces Task Forces 150 and 151, and conducts regular Regional Maritime Security Patrols to ensure safe and secure seas.

Ahmed said Pakistan also takes pride in regularly hosting the multinational Exercise AMAN in Karachi, which is one of the largest naval gatherings in the region.

“The 9th edition of AMAN held in February this year, brought together over 60 navies from across the world in a demonstration of unity and shared commitment to cooperative security at sea,” he said.

Ahmed said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite monitoring and analytics are transforming maritime security but are also posing certain cyber weaponization and inequality risks. He stressed the need to develop these technologies responsibly, with equitable access and safeguards.

“Pakistan stands ready to work with all countries to safeguard the maritime domain, uphold international law, and ensure our oceans remain open, peaceful, and shared for the benefit of all humankind,” Ahmed concluded.

KARACHI: The United States (US) is designating the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group active in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, as a “foreign terrorist organization,” the State Department said on Monday.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but most impoverished province, has been the site of a long-running insurgency that has intensified in recent months, with separatist militants attacking security forces, government officials and installations and people from other provinces.

The BLA, which also uses the alias of ‘The Majeed Brigade,’ is the most prominent of separatist groups in Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and is home to key China-led infrastructure projects, including a port and a gold-copper mine.

In March, the group claimed responsibility for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and holding hostage over 300 train passengers. In 2024, it claimed suicide attacks on Chinese nationals in Karachi and Gwadar.

“Today’s action taken by the Department of State demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to countering terrorism,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quoted as saying by the State Department.

“Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities.”

The foreign terrorist organization designation by the US triggers restrictions on providing financial support and other aid to the group.

The US designation of the BLA comes amid a spike in militant violence in Pakistan’s Balochistan, which Islamabad has blamed on India and Afghanistan. New Delhi and Kabul deny the allegation.

On Monday, Pakistan Railways suspended all train services to and from the insurgency-hit southwestern province for four days after separatists blew up a railway track, derailing six cars of the Jaffar Express train, officials said. The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, which came as Pakistan prepares to mark its 79th Independence Day on Aug. 14.

Separatist groups operating in the mineral-rich region accuse the central government of stealing their resources to fund development elsewhere in the country. The federal government denies the allegations and says it is working for the uplift of local communities in Balochistan.