ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday urged “all sides to refrain from actions inconsistent with the United Nations Charter” following airstrikes carried out by the US, UK and France against the Syrian regime.
Islamabad has been observing developments in Syria “with grave concerns,” the ministry said.
Pakistan condemns the “use of chemical weapons,” said Foreign Office spokesman Dr. Muhammed Faisal.
He urged “all parties to strive for an agreement within the OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons)” and allow it to investigate the suspected chemical attack on the town of Douma that led to the airstrikes. “At this time, our thoughts are with the people of Syria” suffering from “turmoil,” he said.
Former Pakistani Ambassador Javed Hafiz said Islamabad “is carefully studying and reviewing the situation that is unfolding after the airstrikes on Syria.”
Defense analyst Zaffar Jaspal told Arab News: “Chemical weapons use is a crime against humanity, but air raids on settled areas are also condemnable. In both cases, innocent Syrians are victims.”
Jaspal, an academic expert on weapons of mass destruction, added: “The international community should act to save innocent Syrians from both state terrorism and Western airstrikes causing collateral damage.”
